Nazeeh Johnson has been suspended.
But he now says his positive test for a performance-enhancing drug had nothing to do with football but with growing his family.
The Titans defensive back, who spent his last four seasons with the Chiefs, has been suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2026 regular season for violating the NFL’s PED policy.
News of the suspension broke Friday, and the Titans noted that Johnson is eligible for the team’s preseason activities, including games, but won’t be available to play in the regular season until Oct. 19, when he would be eligible for reinstatement.
Johnson subsequently addressed the suspension in a lengthy statement posted on X, revealing that his positive test resulted from medication he was taking while undergoing fertility treatment with his wife.
Married last June, Johnson used the opportunity to explain the positive result and warn other players about not checking a medication thoroughly before taking it.
“My wife and I were trying to conceive a child,” Johnson wrote. “We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby. I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a PED. Lesson to all NFL players and new players coming into the league: do not put anything in your body without following the process and getting approval beforehand.
“We lost our baby a few weeks ago, and this has been an incredibly difficult time for my wife and me. Fortunately, we have nine good eggs left, so we’re holding on to hope that we’ll be able to grow our family.”
Johnson did not dispute the positive test or the punishment.
Johnson, who signed with the Titans in July, dealt with a shoulder injury for most of 2025, playing just two games.
After being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, Johnson played 14 regular season and playoff games in a limited role while being a piece of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning team that year.
Johnson missed 2023 due to a torn ACL but played significant time in 2024, starting in six of his 16 regular season appearances, recording 56 tackles, three passes deflected and one sack.
He was also a starter during the team’s run to Super Bowl 2025, playing 54 snaps during the postseason and recording six tackles.
