Former Titans defender Denico Autry suspended for PED violation

The Houston Texans had a breakout season in 2023, thanks in large part due to the efforts of Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback C.J. Stroud, and the work of his talented wide receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins. With the offense firing on all cylinders and adding pieces to take them to the next level in the offseason – like former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon – the defense had to re-tool to keep up their end of the bargain.

And re-tool they did. In the offseason the Texans added former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter and former Tennessee Titans defensive end Denico Autry to pair with Defensive Rookie of the Year winner Will Anderson. Unfortunately for the Texans and remaining Tennessee fans of Autry, news came down Monday that they will be without Autry for the first six games of the season due to a suspension.

The league announced that Autry has been suspended for the first six weeks of the season due to violating the league’s Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) policy. Autry denies intentionally violating the policy, stating:

"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."

Autry went on to say that he investigated the issue and found that the pharmacy that received the prescription “whether intentionally, recklessly, or negligently, included a banned substance”.

Autry spent the past three seasons with the Titans, providing them with a consistent pass rush off the edge. Over his three seasons with the team, Autry averaged 9.5 sacks per season, putting up a career-high 11.5 sacks last season. Autry also added double-digit quarterback hits in two of this three seasons with the Titans, displaying great ability to be disruptive even has he passed his age-30 season.

Autry has accepted the league’s punishment for violating the policy, and will miss the Texans first six games of the season. Autry will be eligible to return for the team’s seventh game, a matchup against the Green Bay Packers . Tennessee doesn't have their first game against Houston until Week 12, so Autry should be available for his first (and second) game against his former team. Titans fans won't get to see Autry face his former home-field crowd until the final week of the season.