The Cardinals released Washington on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

What was once a promising career has been derailed by violations of the substance abuse policy and legal woes, keeping him off the field since Week 17 of the 2013 season. A glimmer of hope arrived in late April, when Washington was conditionally reinstated by the NFL, but the development didn't stop the Cardinals from selecting inside linebacker Hasson Reddick in the first round of the draft. After meeting with team president Michael Bidwell, general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians earlier this week, the team has opted to move ahead without the 30-year-old LB.

Washington (suspension) was conditionally reinstated by the NFL on Tuesday, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

After multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy and an assault charge for a May of 2013 incident, Washington's indefinite suspension by the NFL has comprised the past three seasons. The Cardinals released a statement Tuesday in which they touched on his reinstatement. "Considering we have been prohibited from having any contact with him over the last three years, it would be premature today to discuss a potential return to the team. ... At the appropriate time, we will address the issue of Daryl Washington further." The final year of his current contract coincides with the 2017 campaign, but it remains to be seen if the Cardinals consider Washington a part of their present and future.

Washington (suspension) has yet to return from his extended suspension.

EDGE Analysis

The once promising linebacker has taken long, dark ride down suspension road, having not played a game since 2013. Washington signed a four-year contract shortly before being handed his first year-long suspension, which actually turned into an indefinite suspension in the wake of multiple other incidents, in 2014. He now sits on the Cardinals' suspended reserve. There has been no word regarding the status of his possible reinstatement since he applied for it in July of 2015. His chances of yet again becoming an impact player in the NFL look slim at this point.

Washington (suspension) applied for reinstatement May 8, Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 AM reports. The NFL is supposed to make a decision within 60 days, but things may have been complicated by Washington's 2013 domestic violence conviction, for which he has yet to be punished by the league. He seemingly has a good shot to be reinstated from his year-long suspension for a repeat violation of the substance-abuse policy, but another ban of six or more games could be right around the corner.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said there has been no change to Washington's (suspension) status, Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 AM reports. Washington was expected to apply for reinstatement in April, but there was never any report that he actually did. Although it's possible he still hasn't applied, it's more likely that the NFL is just taking its time to make a decision. Washington was suspended for all of 2014 due to repeat substance-abuse policy violations, and while he seemingly made it through the ban without any further issues, he still has a domestic violence conviction from May of 2013 hanging over his head. It's possible he'll be reinstated from the first suspension, only to be suspended again shortly thereafter. The NFL now has a six-game minimum suspension for domestic violence incidents, and Washington hasn't played in a game since Dec. 2013. As great as he was for the Cardinals through the first few years of his career, the 28-year-old faces an uphill battle to become an impact player once again.

Washington will apply for reinstatement from his suspension "within the next week or so," the Arizona Republic reports. The step would be the first in Washington's quest to learn his availability for the 2015 campaign. His suspension last season resulted from a repeat violation of the league's substance abuse policy, and in order to be reinstated, he must provide all "pertinent information" related to his treatment from his year away from football. The NFL will then have 60 days to review and make a decision on his eligibility. Since no violation has been reported during his ban, Washington seems like a safe bet to receive clearance from the league. However, he still has potential punishment hanging over his head from a domestic violence conviction for a May of 2013 incident, which will likely be taken seriously due to recent high-profile cases from across the NFL.

The Cardinals aren't counting on having Washington available for 2015, azcardinals.com reports. Washington was suspended for the entire 2014 season for a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, and he'll likely be suspended again for a subsequent domestic-violence assault conviction. A mandatory six-game ban would seem to represent Washington's best-case scenario, but his history and the details of the incident could perhaps warrant a longer suspension. While he was one of the league's top defensive players not too long ago, Washington won't necessarily get back to that level, if he plays in 2015.

The Cardinals are reportedly "fuming" over Daryl Washington's latest substance abuse violation and are preparing to go after his $10 million option bonus.

Suspended ILB Daryl Washington revealed his minimum one-year suspension is for a marijuana violation. Washington's 2013 four-game ban was for violating the NFL's drug test policy, so he's now a multiple violator. And to reiterate, Washington has not yet faced any league discipline for his guilty plea to felony aggravated assault. We wouldn't expect to see 27-year-old Washington playing football anytime soon.

NFL suspended Cardinals ILB Daryl Washington for "at least" a year for violations of the league's substance abuse policy. FOX Sports 910 in Arizona first had the report, and it's now confirmed. The NFL announced this suspension is specifically for substance abuse violations and "unrelated to Washington's recent plea bargain for an assault charge," which perhaps explains why the announcement was "at least" a year. (He could face further discipline.) Washington was also suspended four games in 2013 for substance abuse violations. A dynamic coverage linebacker, pass rusher, and run defender, Washington's ban is an enormous blow to Arizona's defense. They'll turn to sophomore Kevin Minter and Steelers retread Larry Foote as underwhelming replacements.