Texans LB Cushing suspended for 10 games

NFL media insider Ian Rapoport has reported that Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing will miss the next 10 games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances. He is eligible to return for the team’s Week 12 clash against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cushing played 78.2 percent of his team’s snaps in 2016, and produced a PFF overall grade of 76.5, good for 33rd among 88 qualifying players at the position.
In 2016, Cushing proved to be one of the most complete linebackers in the game, performing well against the run and the pass. Against the run, he tallied 28 stops, and ranked fifth among 60 qualifying inside linebackers with a run stop percentage of 11.5 percent. In coverage, he led the all inside linebackers in yards per cover snap (0.37), cover snap per reception (22.7) and cover snaps per target (17.0).
With Cushing out, rookie inside linebacker Zach Cunningham will likely see an increase in snaps. Cunningham was impressive on his regular season debut and despite playing limited snaps (28 of 64), Cunningham finished with three run stops, a run stop percentage of 18.8 percent, and a PFF game grade of 82.1.