Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, the NFL's sack leader and top candidate for rookie of the year honors, will get at least two more games in which to enhance his already impressive credentials.

League sources, and a source close to the Panthers star, have confirmed to ESPN.com that the appeal of Peppers' pending four-game suspension will be heard Dec. 3 in New York. That means Peppers, already scheduled to play in Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, will also be available for a Dec. 1 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Peppers faces the suspension after testing positive for a substance banned by the league. The substance is believed to be either Ephedra or a derivative of the stimulant, which was banned last year, and for which the league began testing this summer.

The screening took place in late September, ESPN.com has learned, and was part of the NFL's random testing program.

If the appeal is rejected, as anticipated, Peppers would likely be suspended for the final four games of this season. Carolina officials privately prefer that sanction, rather than have the suspension carry over into 2003, as it almost certainly would if the appeal were heard at a later date. In fact, team officials were prepared to suggest to Peppers he forego the appeal if a delay would have jeopardized a portion of his 2003 season.

The former North Carolina star was the second overall player selected in the 2002 draft and signed a seven-year contract that could be worth as much as $62 million. The deal included a $9.1 million signing bonus.

Peppers will lose $235,294 in base salary unless his appeal is successful. He will also jeopardize a $1 million bonus for earning a Pro Bowl berth and a bonus of $100,000 for being named defensive rookie of the year. He will go into Sunday's game with 11 sacks and is threatening the rookie record for sacks set by Tennessee Titans end Jevon Kearse (14½).

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.