The Houston Texans have been dealt a blow to their defense, with veteran tackle Mario Edwards Jr. suspended four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.
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Texans Lose Defensive Tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to Four-Game Performance-Enhancing Drug Suspension
The Houston Texans will be without one of their defensive playmakers for the next four games after the NFL slapped him with a violation of their performance-enhancing drug policy.
Veteran defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. was suspended four games without pay on Monday for the violation, though it's unknown what substance Edwards was found to have taken.
Texans Lose Defensive Tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to Four-Game Performance-Enhancing Drug Suspension
Edwards is eligible for reinstatement on November 11 when the Texans have the Dallas Cowboys on the schedule for Week 11.
Edwards, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman out of Florida State, is in his 10th season in the NFL but his first with Houston.
Texans Lose Defensive Tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to Four-Game Performance-Enhancing Drug Suspension
He's been an immediate contributor for the Super Bowl contenders, securing two sacks, 18 tackles, and one pass defended over six games for the squad. Edwards has started every game thus far.
Luckily for Houston, they do have depth for their defensive line, which includes Denico Autry, who is coming back from an NFL suspension of his own.
Autry is expected to play against the Green Bay Packers this upcoming week after violating the same policy that Edwards is now being disciplined for.
Autry said he didn't "intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance," though his suspension was upheld, and he hasn't been able to play to start the year.
"Over the course of my 10-year NFL career, I have never engaged in the use of performance-enhancing drugs," Autry said back in July, per NFL.com. "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."
Autry is an addition to Houston's defense this year as well after coming off an 11.5-sack season with the Tennessee Titans in 2023.
The Texans are hoping that Edwards' suspension will not derail their strong start to the season. They are currently 4-2 and in second place in the AFC South.
The team has a tough schedule ahead, though, with games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Las Vegas Raiders in the next four weeks.
Edwards' suspension is a setback, but the Texans are confident that they have the depth to overcome it and continue their playoff push.
