DETROIT (AP) – Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers will be suspended for four games by the NFL for taking a banned, over-the-counter substance, an official within the league told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the NFL is expected to announce the suspension Wednesday.
“We have no comment,” Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said.
An e-mail seeking comment was sent to Rogers on Tuesday night.
Losing Rogers will be a blow for the Lions, who are coming off their first win of the season. Detroit (1-5) plays Sunday on the road against the New York Jets (3-3).
Rogers has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl the past two seasons and is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles. He had a career-high 5? sacks last year. In six games this season, Rogers had three sacks and 20 tackles.
He has missed just four games since the Lions drafted him the second round of the 2001 draft, overlooking injury concerns some teams had about him coming out of Texas. Detroit signed him to a six-year contract after the 2004 season, keeping one of the few players to excel consistently for the struggling team in recent years.
Whether teams dare to block the 6-foot-4, 345-pound Rogers with one lineman or two, he often gets where he wants to go with a rare combination of size, speed, strength and nimble footwork.
“I think Shaun Rogers is the best defensive lineman in the game, not just the best defensive tackle,” Lions president Matt Millen has said. “Some might be stronger, quicker or bigger, but nobody has his combination of all those things in addition to being as smart as he is.”
Hold tight… Curious to find out what he was taking…