The 2017 NFL season has gotten off to a rough start for the Houston Texans. Not only is the team recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and a blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, but they must now also deal with losing one of their best defensive players in linebacker Brian Cushing.

According to ESPN, Cushing has been suspended by the NFL for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) a second time. The USC product will miss 10 games as a result of the suspension.

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has been suspended 10 games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced Wednesday.

Back in 2010, Cushing was suspended the first time for use of performance-enhancing drugs, via ESPN.

Cushing previously was suspended four games in 2010 for testing positive for HCG, a fertility drug that was on the NFL's banned substances list.

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In Week 2, the Texans will have to recoup quickly as they're playing on a short week. Houston will go on the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday with both teams looking for their first win of the season.

Although Cushing is no J.J. Watt or Jadeveon Clowney in terms of the impact defensively, the loss of the veteran linebacker is a blow to what was thought to be an elite defense coming into the 2017 campaign.