Eagles guard Josh Sills was found not guilty of rape and kidnapping charges by an Ohio court Friday following a February indictment.
Prosecutors had alleged that Sills, who had been indicted felony count of rape and one felony count of kidnapping, “did engage in sexual conduct” with a victim and “purposely compelled her to submit by force or threat of force” in Guernsey County in December 2019.
While a police report had been filed immediately after the alleged incident, it took almost three years for the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office to complete its investigation before the grand jury then made the indictment.
The indictment came shortly after the Eagles won the 2023 NFC title game, and he did not play in the Super Bowl.
After the verdict had been read, Sills, 25, was given the opportunity to speak to the panel of jurors.
“I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done,” Sills said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’d like to thank my family for supporting me from day one. I’ve done nothing wrong, and am glad that was proven today.”
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The Eagles, in a Friday statement, said Sills has now been removed from the commissioner’s exempt list.
“We are aware that the legal matter involving Josh Sills has been adjudicated and he was found not guilty,” the Eagles said in a statement Friday. “The organization has monitored the situation.
“The NFL has removed him from the Commissioner’s Exempt List and he will return to the team’s active roster.”
Sills’ attorney, Michael Connick, said he now expects his client to restart his football career in earnest.
“He’ll be able to build his football career and grow as a person and be successful in all of the things that he chooses to do,” Connick said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s unfortunate he was accused of this. It cost him a Super Bowl appearance… He will move on and live his life in a very honorable fashion.”
Sills, who attended West Virginia and Oklahoma State, played in one game in 2022.
