LA Rams News: PS DB Tyrique McGhee suspended for 2 games

LA Rams News: Practice squad CB Tyrique McGhee suspended for two games

In LA Rams News: Practice squad rookie defensive back Tyrique McGhee has been disciplined and suspended by the NFL for two games without pay for violating the league’s policy on Performance Enhancing Substances.

McGhee has not been in the Rams news much. He was signed after the 2020 NFL Draft, a versatile defensive back from the University of Georgia. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound rookie can play both safety and cornerback in the NFL scheme. It is this versatility that enabled the young man to land a spot on the Rams practice squad.

Disciplined

But NFL competition is tough. Whether deliberate or mishap, the pressure to remain healthy and competitive pushes young men to grey areas of supplements and health treatments. Such is the case for McGhee.

While the two-week suspension would normally not be an issue, the LA Rams are clearing the decks of all DBs in the secondary to help the Rams reinforce the defense in the absence of inside linebacker Micah Kiser.

How does this affect McGhee’s future?

Whenever the NFL disciplines a player, the first penalty is considered a warning shot. But the NFL never forgets. So now McGhee has a strike against him. A complete list of prohibited substances can be found on the NFLPA website. The penalties escalate quickly.

A first failed test for stimulants or diuretics will result in a two-game suspension.
A first failed test for anabolic steroids will result in a six-game suspension.
A second violation for stimulants of diuretics results in a five-game suspension.
A second violation for anabolics will result in a 17-game suspension.

By the penalty, McGhee’s substance falls into the stimulants/diuretics category. While that can be a one-time blemish for McGhee, it’s worth monitoring. He hasn’t made it to the team’s active roster just yet, and any plans to elevate him have been derailed by two weeks.