Veteran security Tashaun Gipson Sr. stated Monday that he takes full duty for utilizing a complement that led to him being suspended six video games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances coverage and he intends to play this season, which might be his thirteenth within the NFL.
“Throughout this offseason I took a complement one time, which I regarded as fully protected and nicely inside any of the NFL’s insurance policies. It was by no means associated to efficiency, coaching, or gaining a bonus of any sort at any time. I’ve competed at this degree for a very long time, and don’t have anything however respect for the sport and the fraternity of gamers in it,” he stated in a press release.
“The NFL’s coverage on efficiency enhancing substances is evident, and I take full duty for something I put into my physique. It’s with nice disappointment that I settle for this suspension, and I accomplish that realizing that I’ve by no means even tried to cheat the sport. I sit up for returning for my thirteenth NFL season and serving to a crew compete for a championship.”
Gipson, who performed the previous two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers, is presently a free agent.
Signed for further depth simply earlier than the 2022 season, Gipson reenergized his profession with the 49ers, shortly changing into the starter at free security. He was introduced again on a one-year, $2.9 million deal.
In two seasons with San Francisco, Gipson, who turns 34 in August, grew to become a trusted locker room chief for the opposite younger defensive backs and a stalwart on the again finish of the protection.
In 2023, Gipson began 16 video games, posting 60 tackles with a sack and an interception after tallying 61 tackles and 5 interceptions in 2022. He additionally had 5 of his 14 postseason tackles within the Tremendous Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Initially an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of Wyoming, Gipson spent 4 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, three with the Jacksonville Jaguars, one with the Houston Texans and two with the Chicago Bears earlier than becoming a member of the 49ers.
Gipson has 684 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns in 173 profession regular-season video games.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.
