Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping felony charges, the Ohio Attorney General and a county sheriff announced Wednesday.
Sills, 25, was issued a summons to appear at Guernsey County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 16. The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs for the Super Bowl LVII title in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12.
He has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List as the league begins a personal conduct policy review, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Sills will not be allowed to participate in team activities including practice, games and travel.
According to the indictment, filed on Jan. 31, the charges are related to an incident that occurred in December of 2019, when Sills allegedly “engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will.”
The announcement added that the crime was immediately reported, warranting a detailed investigation from the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was presented to the grand jury and is now being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General’s Office. The indictment serves as a formal notice of the criminal allegations.
In the police report obtained by Yahoo Sports, an officer who was dispatched to a Cambridge emergency room on the night of the alleged sexual assault detailed the events as described by the victim.
According to the woman’s account, Sills and she had known each other since high school. She told the officer that he was meant to drop her and a friend off at her cousin’s house, where she was staying at the time.
Upon arrival, she attempted to leave the vehicle with her friend until a man she identified as Sills “grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back into the truck.” He allegedly grabbed her by the ponytail and tried to kiss her, disregarding that she told him to stop. Once the woman’s friend was in the house, the report says that Sills allegedly attempted to remove her pants, and touched her inappropriately. The report also details alleged forced oral sex.
A nurse told the officer that the woman had bruising on her inner lip, right ear, as well as the back of her throat and knee.
Sills declared for the NFL draft in January 2022, went unselected and was later picked up by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He played high school football in Ohio before attending both West Virginia and Oklahoma State.
According to his bio on the Eagles’ website, Sills was one of three undrafted rookies to earn an opening day roster spot with the team.
He is a reserve player and has appeared in only one game this season, none in the post season.
The Eagles issued a statement via ESPN. “The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills,” the team said. “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.”