The NFL suspended Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry six games for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing drugs, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday.
Autry released a statement saying he did not "intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance."
"Over the course of my 10-year NFL career, I have never engaged in the use of performance-enhancing drugs," Autry said. "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."
Even as he gets long in the tooth, Autry, 34, has proven he can remain productive. He is coming off an 11.5-sack campaign in Tennessee in 2023 and averaged 9.5 sacks over the past three seasons with the Titans. The once undrafted free agent has 59 career sacks in 142 games.
The Texans inked Autry this offseason as part of a remade defensive line that included the signing of Danielle Hunter on the edge and Folorunso Fatukasi, Tim Settle, and Mario Edwards Jr. on the interior.
Autry's six-game suspension takes a bite out of that plan to start the season.
