Tennessee Titans cornerback Nazeeh Johnson says a fertility drug he took while trying to start a family with his wife caused a positive drug test. This test led to a six-game suspension from the NFL.
The NFL suspended Johnson without pay for the first six games of the 2026 regular season. This happened because he violated the league's Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy.
His suspension starts on August 30, but he can still join the Titans' preseason activities and games.
On Saturday, BBC Sport reported that Johnson, who is 28 years old, shared his story in a statement on X. He said he and his wife were getting fertility treatment after finding out he was infertile. He did not know the medicine had a banned substance according to NFL rules.
Johnson also mentioned that they recently lost their baby. He called this time extremely hard for them. Despite this, he remains hopeful about starting a family since they have nine viable eggs left.
He also used this experience to advise other NFL players. He warned them to check any medication before taking it to ensure it doesn’t contain banned substances. “Do not put anything in your body without following the process and getting approval beforehand,” Johnson said in his statement.
Johnson joined the Titans in July after four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was picked in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and played in 29 games for Kansas City. He was part of the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning teams.
Because of his suspension, Johnson will miss the first six regular-season games for Tennessee if he stays on the roster. He can apply for reinstatement on October 19.
Johnson’s wife said they appealed the suspension, but the NFL rejected it. They submitted over 50 documents during the appeal.
For Johnson and his wife, this suspension adds to their personal struggle as they keep trying to have a child.
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