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 Edwards did specifically to violate that policy. He will be eligible for reinstatement after Houston’s matchup against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10.
NFL: Mario Edwards Jr. of the Houston Texans is suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy, it was announced today.
Edwards will be eligible for reinstatement on November 11 following 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 blowout win over Drake Maye and the New England Patriots on Sunday, which marked Houston’s third straight victory and moved it 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, who 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 this past offseason.
While the Texans are losing Edwards for the next month, defensive lineman Denico Autry was reinstated on Monday after he served 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. He had a career-high 50 total tackles and 11.5 sacks last season with the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans will take on the Green Bay Packers next on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.