Michael Hoecht was supposed to be the kind of defensive linemen the Buffalo Bills could use as a Swiss-army knife of sorts. After all, the team needed quality defensive linemen after ranking just 18th in the league in sacks in 2024.
Hoecht's impact on the Bills will have to wait at least a third into the 2025 season, though.
Hoecht, along with Larry Ogunjobi, have been suspended by the NFL for violating the league's policy against performance enhancing drugs. While the Bills remain committed to the former Los Angeles Ram following a three-year, $24 million free agent deal, the veteran knows he put the organization in a bad situation.
Even with a full explanation on what exactly happened.
"He's the guy that I have purchased, protein, creatine, IVs, multivitamins, all the stuff that athletes normally take," Hoecht said. "I had everything verified by an independent nurse, that everything was what it said it was. And built up a relationship with somebody that I thought I could trust.
"You get drug tested all the time in the NFL, never had any issues. Everything was what it said it was. So this is somebody that I thought I could trust, and that's where this ultimately becomes my responsibility."
Related: Bills' Josh Allen's Fiance Hailee Steinfeld Announces 'Digital Detox'
It's good that Hoecht took responsibility for testing positive for PED use at this point. The Bills understand what kind of reminder that is for any team and roster who feels the need to use muscle relacers or other pills to help their own health at this point in time.
It's put Buffalo in a no-win situation.
And it's forced Hoecht to sit out the first six weeks of the 2025 season with his new team.
Related: Amari Cooper vs. Joshua Palmer Triggers Bills 'Route Technician' Debate
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM.