New Tennessee Titans defensive back Nazeeh Johnson has been handed a six-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Johnson, a safety, said on social media that the medication at the center of the positive test was tied to fertility treatment. He wrote:
“My wife and I were trying to conceive a child. We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby.
I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a PED. Lesson to all NFL players and new players coming into the league: do not put anything in your body without following the process and getting approval beforehand.
We lost our baby a few weeks ago, and this has been an incredibly difficult time for my wife and me. Fortunately, we have nine good eggs left, so we’re holding on to hope that we’ll be able to grow our family.”
Johnson is eligible to return when Tennessee hosts Cleveland on Oct. 25.
The Titans signed him on July 27, just before the start of training camp. He arrived with three previous NFL seasons on his résumé, all with the Kansas City Chiefs, after being taken by Kansas City in the seventh round of the 2022 draft.
In 29 career games with the Chiefs, Johnson made six starts. A shoulder injury held him to two games last season, and a torn ACL in his right knee kept him out for the entire 2023 season.
Even with the suspension in place, league rules allow Johnson to practice and play with Tennessee through Aug. 30, when NFL teams must trim rosters to 53 players.
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