Tag: Denico Autry suspension

Will Denico Autry play this week?: Update on Texans DL

Denico Autry is dealing with a knee injury suffered in Week 11’s win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

The Houston Texans return to NRG Stadium for an AFC South with the Tennessee Titans in Week 12, but one vital member of the defensive line could be out.

Defensive lineman Denico Autry suffered a lower-body injury during Monday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys. Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) has been improving,  but Houston needs consistency in its pass rush if it plans on winning multiple playoff games.

Will Autry be good to go for Sunday’s showdown? Here’s the latest on the veteran multi-purpose defensive lineman entering Thursday.

Denico Autry injury update

Autry left during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium with a knee injury and was limited for most of the final 15 minutes. While he did return and was never ruled out by Houston, his rep count was scarce.

The 11-year pro didn’t practice on Wednesday. He also didn’t practice Thursday afternoon, which tends to be Houston’s most strenuous practice throughout the week and provides a better indication of a player’s status.

The Texans have had two players miss practice during the week and still play the following Sunday. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukaski missed practice and returned for Friday’s walkthrough before appearing in Week 7 and Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers and Lions, respectively.

Tight end Dalton Schultz didn’t practice in Week 2 with an ankle injury but managed to suit in a win over the Chicago Bears.

If Autry were to return on Friday for walkthroughs, it’s a sign that he’s not expected to miss multiple games. Houston also has been keen on keeping players out if they’re not at 100 percent.

Both receiver Nico Collins and defensive back Kamari Lassiter returned for Friday’s practice and did not play in Week 10 and 11, respectively.

How long will Denico Autry be out? 

Everything is based on the severity of the injury. Should Autry not practice on Friday, he’ll at least miss Sunday’s matchup against his former team. If he misses the start of next week’s practice, he could be out through the bye week.

Denico Autry stats

The stats might fool you this late into the season, but Autry has been one of Houston’s most consistent defenders over the past five games. He was suspended the first six games for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy and did not return until Week 7.

In five games, Autry has totaled nine tackles, three sacks and 11 QB hits.

Texans DL depth chart

Autry could be out, but Anderson could be back. Even if both were to be cleared, here’s a look at the Texans defensive end depth chart entering Sunday’s battle between AFC South rivals.

  • Will Anderson Jr.

  • Danielle Hunter
  • Denico Autry
  • Dylan Horton
  • Jerry Hughes

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans DL Mario Edwards Jr. suspended by NFL for four games

While the Houston Texans are getting back Denico Autry, they’re set to lose Mario Edwards Jr. for the next four games.

Houston Texans defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy, the league announced Monday.

Edwards, who signed a one-year deal to join the Texans this offseason, was enjoying a career-setting start to the 2024 campaign as part of a talented front seven. In Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots, the veteran defensive lineman recorded a season-high eight tackles.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1845918472070381583 

In six games, Edwards recorded 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and two sacks. He will be eligible for reinstatement on November 11 following Houston’s matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions.

The loss of Edwards stings for depth, but Houston should be able to withstand his loss with the return of Denico Autry. The multi-purpose defensive lineman was reinstated by the NFL Monday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Autry, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal in March after posting a career-high 11.5 sacks last season with the Tenessee Titans, has practiced since being suspended on July 29.

According to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Autry has been working out at the Texans’ training facility and is healthy and in shape.

The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans stands behind suspended DL Denico Autry

The Texans stand behind Denico Autry following his six-game suspension dropped by the NFL.

The Houston Texans will be without defensive lineman Denico Autry for the first six games of the regular season after violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Until then, the AFC South champions will have to make do. They’ll wait until he’s back on the field offering a unique blend of power and speed up the middle.

While disappointed, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the organization would stand behind Autry and his statement that/ he did not knowingly take a banned substance.

“Unfortunate news to hear,” Ryans said Tuesday prior to the team’s trip to Canton for the Hall of Fame Game. “We’ll move forward. He’s here. He’ll continue to work throughout training camp. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there this season.”

Signed to a two-year, $20 million contract, Autry was expected to be the pass-rushing do-it-all defensive lineman in place of the departed Maliek Collins. Even at 34, the 11-year veteran showed few signs of slowing down after totaling a career-high 11.5 sacks in his final year with the Titans.

Autry did not dress out for training camp practice on Tuesday. He’ll still be allowed to practice and run through drills leading up to the end of the preseason but will be placed on the suspended list come Week 1.

“It doesn’t change our evaluation process,” Ryans said. “We’ve known about this for a while so it doesn’t change where we are.”

In his place, the Texans plan to turn to Mario Edwards Jr., another veteran with position flexibility. Signed to a one-year deal, Edwards was expected to compete at defensive end. Before Monday’s practice, Houston changed his position on the depth chart to defensive tackle.

“I play all up and down the line, wherever they need me to make a play,” Edwards said Monday of the position switch.

In Ryans’ defense, the “SWARM” mentality takes priority. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter mentioned that when playing in the front seven, there’s an “attack” notion over a fundamental approach.
Edwards feels the same from the inside.

“It is attack and put your hands on somebody, man against man, bloody somebody’s nose, just that real aggressive style of football that we like,” he said.

Autry, who joins Houston from a 3-4 defense under Mike Vrabrel, also could shift in the defensive end rotation. For now, the Texans must find a replacement who can add pressure from the outside.

If the Texans look to keep things internal, veteran Jerry Hughes could have the inside track at the final spot on the 53-man roster. He spent the past two seasons with Houston and led the team with 9.5 sacks in 2022. He also signed a one-year deal days before training camp started and already understands his role as a rotational specialist.

The Texans won’t return to the Methodist Training Center until after their second preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 9.

Where do Texans turn following suspension of Denico Autry?

The Houston Texans must now find a way to replace the production lost by Denico Autry entering the 2024 season.

While the Houston Texans still should be viewed as the favorites to win the AFC South, their defensive line depth took a hit on Monday morning.

Veteran defensive lineman Denico Autry, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal this offseason, has been suspended for the first six games of the season after violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs, the league announced Monday.

Autry, who did not practice on Monday in front of fans, released a statement saying that while he denied the use of PEDs, he would accept the punishment. He also apologized to the organization, fellow Texans teammates and the fans.

“Over the course of my ten-year NFL career, I have never engaged in the use of performance-enhancing drugs,” Autry said in a statement. “Over that period, I have been subject to countless tests, none of which have ever returned a positive result. I was, stunned this offseason when I learned that one of my tests returned a positive result.

“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.”

Autry, who totaled a career-high 11.5 sacks last season, was expected to be an essential part of the Texans’ front seven in 2024 as an upgraded replacement for Maleik Collins. The 34-year-old offers a unique blend of size, power and speed that can be used at both defensive tackle and defensive end.

That was a selling point for Houston in the offseason. Now, the Texans must pivot to someone else for the role, but who?

Should they look to promote from within, the closest player to Autry’s skillset is Mario Edwards Jr. A fellow veteran who signed this offseason. Edwards has experience seeing reps on the outside for run plays and up the middle on passing downs.

Autry was the better player, having totaled 59 career sacks between his 10 seasons, though Edwards’ 21.5 sacks still are impressive for a player with reps at multiple spots.

“Wherever coach wants me to make a play and make it happen,” Edwards said Monday following practice. “It doesn’t matter to me. I play all up and down the line, wherever they need me to play.”

Houston potentially also could see a similar role for Jerry Hughes, who signed a one-year deal to return before the start of the regular season. In a sense, he played the position well last season as the No. 3 edge rusher behind Will Anderson Jr. and Jonathan Greenard.

Much like Autry, he would also shift inside on passing down to bolster the interior pass rush up the middle against quarterbacks.

Should the Texans elect to bring in someone from free agency, Carl Lawson could be the top name on the market. A former starter for the Bengals and Jets, Lawson has experience playing in a similar defensive front under Robert Saleh.

Before Ryans took over as the 49ers defensive coordinator, that title belonged to Saleh. Over his three seasons with the Jets, Lawson, 29, totaled seven sacks and nine tackles for loss.

Other names who could fill Autry’s place on the defensive line include Charles Harris, Yannick Ngakoue, Marquis Haynes, Rasheem Green, and Kyle Phillips.

Autry will be eligible to return on Oct. 14 following the Texans’ Week 6 game against the New England Patriots. He can still participate in team activities, including practices and preseason games until the regular season begins.

The suspension will begin the first week of September. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans will address the situation further on Tuesday following practice.

The Texans leave Wednesday for Canton, Ohio, to take on the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game Thursday night.