HOUSTON — The Houston Texans defense took a hit Monday when it was announced that free agent signee Denico Autry was suspended six games to start the season, the league announced Monday.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who was one of the first to report it, Autry, who signed with the Texans after spending the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs.
Autry has released a statement saying, “It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance.”
Autry was expected to bolster a defensive line that already featured the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson Jr.
Autrey is in his 11th season in the NFL. The Mississippi State product entered the league with the Raiders and played four seasons before three seasons in Indianapolis and the last three with Tennessee.
Read his full statement below:
"Over the course of my ten-year NFL career, I have never engaged in the use of performance enhancing drugs. Over that period, I have been subject to countless tests, none of which have ever returned a positive result. I was, therefore, stunned this offseason when I learned that one of my tests returned a positive result.
“I immediately investigated the matter and discovered that a pharmacy to which my doctors submitted a prescription for a different medication, had, whether intentionally, recklessly, or negligently, included a banned substance. I want to be clear, at no time did I know or even suspect that this medication contained a banned substance.
“Upon discovering the source of the positive test, I immediately retained legal counsel in connection with this matter. My counsel provided the NFL with information, including documentation from my doctors, establishing that I neither asked for nor was prescribed any banned substances. It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance. I understand, however, that under the NFL’s policies, ultimate responsibility for what enters my body rests with me. To that end, while I intend to explore legal options pertaining to the circumstances that resulted in my positive test, I have accepted the NFL’s punishment of a six-game suspension.
“I want to apologize to the Texans organization, my teammates, and the fans for any distraction this may cause. Finally, I want to assure our fans that my commitment to competing to the best of my ability has only grown and I look forward to returning to the field."
