Josh Sills Found Not Guilty Of Rape, Kidnapping

Eagles Guard Josh Sills was acquitted of rape and kidnapping by an Ohio jury on Friday afternoon.

The charges against Sills were brought in early February, when Sills was indicted on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping. Both are considered felonies under Ohio law. The jury deliberated for nearly three hours before delivering the not guilty verdict.

When the charges were first brought in February, Sills was placed on the Commissioner Exempt list which barred him from appearing at team facilities or appearing in games, including the Eagles’ then-impending Super Bowl LVII appearance, and from traveling with the team. Akin to being placed on administrative leave, Sills was paid for his time on the list.

The indictment that Sills was acquitted from alleged Sills engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual. The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation into Sills following a report that was made shortly after the alleged activity that led to the indictment in December 2019.

The Philadelphia Eagles released this statement following the acquittal:

We are aware that the legal matter involving Josh Sills has been adjudicated and he was found not guilty. 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.

According to WRTF in Ohio, Sills thanked his family and friends, saying that he did nothing wrong. Attorneys for Sills said today that Sills could be back in Philadelphia in the next couple of days.

The Eagles have an open space on their 90-man roster so a corresponding move to create space for Sills will not be required.