Houston Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, the NFL announced Monday afternoon.
It’s unclear what specifically Edwards did to violate that policy. He will be eligible for reinstatement after Houston’s game against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10.
NFL: Mario Edwards Jr. of the Houston Texans has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy, it was announced today.
Edwards will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11 after the Texans’ Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 14, 2024
The announcement came a day after Edwards’ best game of the season. He had eight total tackles in the Texans’ 41-21 win over Drake Maye and the New England Patriots on Sunday, marking Houston’s third straight victory and moving them to 5-1 on the season. Edwards has 18 total tackles, eight solo tackles and two sacks on the season.
Edwards was also suspended in 2021 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 30-year-old, whom the Raiders first selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State, signed a one-year, $1.65 million deal with the Texans last offseason.
While the Texans will lose Edwards next month, defensive lineman Denico Autry was reinstated Monday after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Autry signed a two-year, $20 million deal to land in Houston earlier this summer. Last season with the Tennessee Titans, he had a career-high of 50 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
The Texans will take on the Green Bay Packers next Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
