NFL defensive end Amani Bledsoe has been handed a harsh suspension of 17 weeks for violating the league’s PED policy for the second time. Last season, Bledsoe was suspended for six games, and his latest violation has put his career in jeopardy. The punishment is in stark contrast to the lighter penalties for recreational drug violations under the 2020 CBA. The 25-year-old is currently a free agent after being waived by the Atlanta Falcons last month.
Bledsoe has played sparingly in the NFL, making only six starts in his career. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has since played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. Despite not having recorded a sack as a pro, Bledsoe did enough to earn a reserve/futures contract with the Falcons last season.
The suspension comes as a significant setback for Bledsoe, who will find it challenging to return to an NFL roster with his reputation tarnished by PED violations. With his career on the line, Bledsoe’s future in the league looks uncertain.
