New York Giants

Giants' FB Nikita Whitlock suspended by NFL

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The NFL has suspended Giants’ fullback Nikita Whitlock for violation of NFL PED policy.

The league has suspended Giants’ fullback Nikita Whitlock for 10 games without pay for violating the NFL performing enhancing drug (PED) policy, according to a post on the team’s official site.

Whitlock was injured/waived in the preseason, per Big Blue View, but was re-signed by the team and placed on injured-reserve after clearing waivers.

The fullback has been placed on the reserved/suspended list, and will begin his suspension immediately. The news was confirmed in a statement by an NFL spokesperson on Giants.com.

Nikita Whitlock of the New York Giants has been suspended without pay for the team’s next 10 games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Whitlock, who is currently on the reserve/injured list, will begin serving his suspension immediately.

– STATEMENT BY AN NFL SPOKESPERSON

If he wasn’t out with an injury, Whitlock still didn’t figure to get much playing time this season. The Giants current depth chart doesn’t carry a fullback. In fact, Big Blue doesn’t have a single fullback on their active roster.

Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Giants fullback Nikita Whitlock (49) before a game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Whitlock is best known to Giants’ fans for lining up at nose tackle in 2015. He was second-team All-ACC at the position in college, but was converted to FB at the next level. James Kratch of NJ.com spoke to Whitlock that season, who said he didn’t know he’d be asked to play the position until the day of the Giants Thursday night game against the Redskins.

(Whitlock) showed up at the stadium on Thursday night, and was informed by the coaching staff he would be playing on defense a few hours later against the Washington Redskins.

– James Kratch

Whitlock will be a free agent after this season.