Charles Snowden’s prove-it season with the Dallas Cowboys will begin on the sidelines due to his off-field actions while part of the Raiders. Per the NFL wire, the defensive end has been suspended for the first three games of the season.

“Snowden, per the NFL, is eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games; his suspension will take effect as of the roster reduction to 53 players,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted.

The league did not announce a reason behind the suspension, but Snowden faced legal charges before. Police arrested Snowden and charged him with a DUI in 2024. As per the authorities, they found him unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a running car that had nearly rolled off a four-foot retaining wall. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the state’s legal limit.

However, in January 2026, Snowden agreed to a plea deal that reduced the charge to reckless driving.

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According to the Cowboys website, which credits reports from NFL media, “Snowden’s suspension is part of a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from a DUI in 2024.”

This is similar to Jordan Addison’s and Demarcus Robinson’s suspensions in 2025. Addison was initially arrested on suspicion of DUI after being found asleep in his vehicle, which was blocking a lane on the interstate. He had pleaded no contest to a “wet reckless” driving charge. A few weeks later, he was suspended for the Vikings’ opening three games of the season.

Meanwhile, Robinson was arrested for speeding. He, too, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge and had to sit out the opening three games of the season.

Under the three-game suspension, Charles Snowden will miss the season’s first Sunday Night Football game on the road against the Giants. He will also miss the Cowboys’ first game at Arlington against the Commanders. Besides the two games against NFC East rivals, he will also have to sit out the Ravens game in Brazil.

The 2026 season was supposed to be a crucial one for Snowden. He’s been a journeyman since he began his NFL career in 2021 as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears. In that season, he played in just two games, coming onto the field for six defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps. All defensive snaps came in his debut at Lambeau in a 45-30 defeat.

The Bears then waived him in early 2022, after which he spent two seasons on the fringes. Snowden signed future/reserve contracts with the Buccaneers and the Raiders.

The Raiders activated Snowden for the 2024 season, allowing him to feature in 16 games. He made his first start in the season opener, recording a solo tackle in a loss against the Chargers. A week later, he won his first NFL game as a starter and recorded a solo tackle as well. This came in the second quarter when he brought down Derrick Henry for a 2nd and 7.

Though his tackle total dipped in 2025, he posted career highs in sacks and tackles for loss and recorded his first interception. It came against the Browns at Allegiant Stadium. The moment occurred at 11:28 in the second quarter when Snowden caught a pass from Shedeur Sanders and returned the ball for 18 yards.

So far, he has recorded 67 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and eight tackles for loss. In Dallas, Snowden had to make an impact worthy enough to keep him on the active roster.

Charles Snowden’s position is under threat

Snowden had signed with the Cowboys in late June, which means he’s already been pushed deep into the DE depth chart. It is expected that Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku will be the starters, while rookie Malachi Lawrence will compete for time. With Snowden being gone for three games, he will also have to fight hard to get some playing time.

And since the Cowboys are still lacking at pass rush, whispers of Maxx Crosby coming to Dallas are growing louder.

We already know that the Cowboys tried and failed to trade for the star edge rusher from the Las Vegas Raiders. Since 2025, Dallas has been trying to replicate the impact that Micah Parsons had as the lead edge rusher, but the team infamously lost him after botched contract talks.

The New York Post’s Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders could still trade Maxx Crosby.

“The same reasons that the Raiders traded Crosby to the Ravens in March are still in place,” Bonsignore said. “Multiple league sources have told The California Post that the framework for a suitable offer would consist of a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and second-year edge rusher Mykel Williams.”

It all depends on the Cowboys if they want to make a move for Crosby or continue with Snowden in the future.