Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Brian Cushing has been suspended for the Houston Texans' next 10 games for violating the NFL's performance enhancing substances policy.
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Texans LB Brian Cushing suspended without pay for team’s next 10 games for violating NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2017
The NFL also released a statement on Cushing's suspension, as passed on by Texans' PR on Twitter:
"Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans has been suspended without pay for the team's next 10 games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances. Cushing's suspension begins immediately. He will be eligible to return to the Texans' active roster on Tuesday, November 28th following the team's November 27 game against the Baltimore Ravens."
The NFL has released the following statement on @HoustonTexans ILB Brian Cushing: pic.twitter.com/2MV61Oqp7I
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) September 13, 2017
Upon his return, Cushing will have five games left to play in the 2017-18 season, with games against the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts still remaining on the Texans' schedule.
Though it's not clear in the wording of the suspension just what performance enhancing substance Cushing has been busted for, this has been something that the NFL has been taking very seriously as of late, so it's no surprise that the league came down hard on him.
It's a loss for the Texans, though it's worth noting that Cushing has far from met expectations after the franchise took him with the No. 15 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Last season for Houston, he notched 38 tackles and a pass deflected in 13 games.
He has been far from elite, though he has been a starter for the Texans, so they'll have to go to the bench in an effort to replace his presence at linebacker. Last weekend against Jacksonville, he notched two tackles.
