Texans' Cushing suspended for 10 games for PEDs

[September 14, 2017]    (Reuters) - Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended for 10 games by the NFL on Wednesday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium . Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Cushing, a former first-round draft pick who was named the NFL's 2009 defensive rookie of the year, will be eligible to return to Houston's active roster on Nov. 28, the league said in a statement.

Losing Cushing for the bulk of the 16-game regular season is a major blow to a Texans team that is coming off a 29-7 season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cushing, who was already ruled out for the Texans' game on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a concussion he suffered on Sunday, was previously suspended for four games in 2010 for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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