Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy against performance enhancing drugs, according to league sources.
Autry signed with the Texans this offseason after spending the past three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The 34-year-old defensive lineman is coming off one of his most productive seasons where he logged a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2023.
Autry denied knowingly ingesting a banned substance, but said in a statement released on Monday that he accepted the six-game suspension.
“It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance,” he wrote in the statement. “I understand however, that under the NFL’s policies, ultimate responsibility for what enters my body rests with me.”
Autry explained that he became aware that he tested positive for a banned substance this offseason. Autry said he discovered that he received a different medication from a pharmacy than the one prescribed by his doctors which contained the banned substance.
“I want to be clear, at no time did I know or even suspect this medication contained a banned substance,” he said.
How does this affect Houston
I’ve lauded the Texans’ signing of Autry as one of the more underrated additions of the offseason given his pass-rushing prowess. He’s coming off his best season in terms of sacks and has produced a 12.9 percent pressure rate the past three seasons, via TruMedia. Adding Autry and Danielle Hunter should certainly bolster the Texans defense with Will Anderson Jr.
Now without Autry for six games, that should leave quite a void up the middle in the interim. The Texans open up the season with these six QB matchups: Anthony Richardson, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, Jacoby Brissett. These aren’t impossible matchups for Houston, the defending AFC South champions. But no Autry for those matchups could allow some of those QBs to feel less pressure up the gut without Autry in the lineup. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
