Former Tennessee Titans defensive end Denico Autry has been suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the 2024 NFL season for violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy, as first reported by Ian Rapoport.
Autry, 34, who signed a two-year deal in free agency with the Houston Texans, is set back a pretty penny. The former Titan will lose $1.5 million of salary, $500k of signing bonus, and $177k of per-game bonus. Additionally, the full guarantee for his remaining $3M of 2024 salary has voided.
Despite being suspended, Autry is maintaining his innocence, indicating, “It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance.“
Here is his full statement:
#Texans DE Denico Autry is being suspended 6 games for violating NFL policy against performance enhancing drugs.
He 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.“
Full: pic.twitter.com/1zc7k8eyTb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 29, 2024
Autry enjoyed a career revival in Nashville after spending the first seven years of his career in Oakland and Indianapolis. In three seasons with the Titans, Autry amassed 108 tackles, including 30 tackles for loss, 54 quarterback hits, 28.5 sacks, 14 pass deflections, and four forced fumbles.
Last year alone, he established career highs in tackles (50) and sacks (11.5) and matched previous career bests in pass deflections (4) and forced fumbles (2).
As the saying goes, “the best ability is availability,” and Denico Autry will not provide that for his new team. The Titans will see the Texans for the first time in Week 12 in Houston. Autry will make his return to Nissan Stadium in Week 18.