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Former Raiders Defensive Lineman Is Apparently Retiring
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- Former Raiders Defensive Lineman Is Apparently Retiring
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Denico Autry is likely retiring, according to a report from Ben Levine of ProFootballRumors.com that also referenced reporting from Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston and Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.
Autry had a long and successful career that started with the Raiders. He went undraftedout of Mississippi State in 2014, but Autry started his career as a rotational lineman with the Raiders for his first four seasons, and he garnered 10.5 sacks during that time.
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His brekaout season came in 2017, when he played in all 16 games, and Autry finished with 36 tackles, five sacks and seven passes defended. He became one of the team's more consistent interior pass rushers, especially during the second half of the season.
Autry was part of a defense that included Khalil Mack , Bruce Irvin , Mario Edwards Jr. and Stacy McGee , so the Raiders thought they had enough talent to let him go, but in the eyes of many fans he's "the one who got away," i.e., a player who wound up leaving because of a poor personnel decision that wound up compromising the defense at the time.
The lineman then earned his first significant contract with the Indianapolis Colts , as he signed a three-year deal for $17.8 million back in 2018. He played out that contract with stats that included 20 sacks in 40 appearances, with 38 of them being starts.
Autry's next contract was with the Tennessee Titan for three years and $21.5 million, and he added another 28.5 sacks during that time.
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He played most recently for the Houston Texans , but struggled during some of that time, as he was suspended for six games by violating the league's policy regarding performance-enhancement drugs, and last year he was limited to 12 games due to a knee injury.
Autry started in two of his 22 appearances with HOuston, but he still managed to compile 6.5 sacks, according to Levine. He also added another 1.5 sacks in four postseason games with the Texans. He hasn't formally announced his retirement yet, but Autry is currently a free agent with teams around the NFL about to start training camp.
If Autry is indeed calling it a career, his final stats will include 331 tackles and 65.5 sacks in 164 games. He added another 17 stops and 5.5 sacks in nine playoff appearances. The Raiders undoubtedly wish they'd hung on to Autry for a longer stretch, as he's been a very productive pass rusher throughout his career.
