The Green Bay Packers announced Friday evening that third-year linebacker Torrance Marshall, a disappointment during his first two seasons in the league, has been suspended for a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.

	Marshall

The suspension is for the first four games of the season. Marshall can practice in training camp with the Packers and participate in the preseason games. His suspension begins with the first week of the regular season. During that period, league rules prohibit him from using the Packers' training facility or having any contact with club officials.

Marshall, 26, would be eligible to return for the Oct. 5 home game against Seattle. He is the second player suspended by the league Friday. Earlier in the day, Minnesota Vikings tight end Byron Chamberlain was sanctioned for four games after he tested positive for the banned substance ephedra.

A third-round choice in 2001, Marshall actually entered the league already in the NFL's substance abuse program because he had tested positive for an unidentified drug at the combine workouts that preceded the draft. Because of the confidentiality guidelines, neither NFL nor Packers officials could discuss specifics of Marshall's case.

Packers head coach and general manager Mike Sherman did say Friday that the league informed him that Marshall recently and voluntarily sought assistance for his problem.

"Sometime after our June minicamp, Torrance sought out the necessary steps in getting the professional help and counseling he needs," Sherman said in a statement. "Hopefully, this will only enhance his ability to put his priorities back in his life.

"I am obviously disappointed that Torrance has put himself in this situation, but I am pleased that he has taken the necessary action to get himself well."

Marshall was a standout defender at Oklahoma, and the Packers believed that, after a season of grooming, he might step into the starting lineup for them. But it was obvious last spring that Marshall was not yet ready to assume the middle linebacker post, and the Packers signed veteran Hardy Nickerson to fill the void.

At one point, in fact, the Packers moved Marshall to fullback, hoping he might find a niche there. He eventually was switched back to linebacker.

This offseason, Marshall's performance has been better, but Green Bay still invested its first-round draft choice on Nick Barnett, and the former Oregon State star has been projected as the starting middle linebacker. That said, the Green Bay staff did expect that Marshall would contribute far more than he did his initial two seasons, and he likely will get that opportunity when he returns from his league-imposed exile.

A major plus is that Marshall has the ability to play all three linebacker spots.

In two seasons, Marshall has appeared in 30 games and has recorded 13 tackles and one pass defensed. The suspension, without pay, will cost him $88,235 in base salary.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.