Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills was indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in Ohio. The felony charges are coming two weeks before the football team prepares to play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to a statement from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday, a Guernsey County Common Pleas Court grand jury indicted Josh Sills, a rookie season with the NFL on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping.
Josh Sills was accused to have committed the act in December 2019 when he had nonconsensual sexual activity with the woman and held her against her will.
According to the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office, the crime was immediately reported then and an investigation was launched.
Josh Sills is expected to appear in court on February 16, less than a week after the Super Bowl. The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Senior vice president of communications for the Eagles, Bob Lange acknowledged that the team is aware of the case.
“We have been in communication with the league office and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time,” Lange said in an emailed statement to NPR.
There was no information on the victim’s age and her relationship with Sills. There is also no information on who Sill’s lawyer was.
The N.F.L. has placed Josh Sills on the commissioner’s exempt list. He was not on the active roster for the Eagles’ first two playoff games. He will also be barred from practicing, playing in games, or traveling with the team as a result.
