A grand jury in Ohio indicted Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills on Wednesday on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping, according to ESPN.com’s Tim McManus. The rookie is no longer on Philadelphia’s active roster.
The NFL placed Sills on the commissioner’s exempt list, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The exempt list or “paid leave” will prevent Sills from practicing or traveling with the Eagles ahead of Super Bowl LVII, and his future with the team should be considered very much in doubt.
Sills, 25, is alleged to have engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity and is accused of holding a victim against her will in December 2019. The Eagles signed Sills as a UDFA in May. Although Sills was on Philadelphia’s 53-man roster as of Wednesday morning, he has played in one game this season.
“The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills,” the Eagles said in a statement. “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.”
The accuser said she has known Sills for seven or eight years, having gone to high school with him. She accused Sills of sexual assault, saying in a statement he both touched her inappropriately and forced her to perform oral sex on Dec. 5, 2019, according to ESPN. The woman received emergency room care at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, with a nurse informing a police officer bruising could be found in the back of the woman’s throat and inner lip. Bruising also was present on the accuser’s right ear and back of her knee.
A Sarahsville, Ohio, native who transferred from West Virginia to Oklahoma State in 2020, Sills has been an Eagles backup this season. He played four regular-season snaps — all on special teams — but has spent his rookie year as a gameday inactive. The NFL will review this case under its personal conduct policy.