NFL News: Veteran Pro Bowl Safety Tashaun Gipson Suspended for Six Games

The NFL is very strict about its rules when it comes to athletes violating the league’s doping policy. For example, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will miss the first two games of the 2024 season after violating the league’s doping policy.

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The NFL has fallen again, but more so to current free agent safety Tashaun Gipson. It was announced that Gipson has been suspended for the first six games of the 2024 season.

Longtime NFL analyst Adam Schefter reported on Gipson’s suspension, saying, “Free agent safety Tashaun Gipson has been suspended for six games for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy.”

No details were given as to what substance Gipson took that led to his suspension, but he will have to wait until a third of the season has passed before he is eligible to play for the first team.

Gipson joined the Cleveland Browns in 2012 as an undrafted free agent. In his rookie season, he totaled 33 tackles, one interception, and one pass defensed. Gipson’s most successful season came in 2014, when he was named to the Pro Bowl after recording 52 tackles, six interceptions, and a defensive touchdown.

After four seasons with the Browns, Gipson signed a five-year, $36 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gipson totaled 159 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes defensed in three seasons with the Jaguars.

Gipson then signed a three-year, $22.25 million contract with the Houston Texans in 2019, although he only played one season with the team. He was released in April 2020.

Gipson then spent the next two seasons with the Chicago Bears, recording 113 tackles, four interceptions, one sack and 10 passes defensed.

In 2022, Gipson signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Although he was waived on August 30, 2022, he was signed to the practice squad the following day. He was eventually promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2022.

After a successful 2022 campaign with the 49ers in which he recorded 61 tackles, five interceptions, half a sack and eight passes defensed, the 49ers gave him a one-year contract extension through the 2023 season, although he only had one interception, one sack and 60 tackles during that time.

Gipson has yet to sign with a new team, and even if the defensive lineup is depleted due to injury or poor performance, teams should avoid relying on a player who won’t return until Week 7.