Baltimore Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith tackles Rams wide receiver Mike Thomas during a preseason game this year. Smith will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have started to put together a defense without cornerback Jimmy Smith, who practiced Wednesday but won't be eligible to play in a game until October.

Smith has been suspended for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. The suspension, announced Tuesday, came “following a long-running and difficult custody dispute” Smith had with his former girlfriend, the Ravens said.

The 30-year-old Smith will be allowed to participate in all of the Ravens' preseason activities, including games. Come September 9, however, Baltimore will open at home against Buffalo without arguably their best cover cornerback.

Fortunately for the Ravens, they're deep at the position. Also, they were forced to make a similar adjustment last season when Smith missed the final month with a torn left Achilles tendon.

“It's what I've been talking about all training camp. We have a lot of depth,” first-year defensive coordinator Don Martindale said Wednesday. “Some guys are just going to have to step up early. We're still working on how we're going to do that.”

The final solution will probably remain under wraps until the season opener.

“I'm not going to tell the rest of the league, especially Buffalo, how we're going to it,” Martindale said. “We'll just have to see. We've got plenty of players who can play.”

Tavon Young is listed behind Smith on the depth chart at right cornerback. Young started 11 games in 2016 before missing last season with a knee injury.

Before the Ravens considered what to do in Smith's absence, the team discussed whether to bring him back at all.