Jaguars pass-rusher Dante Fowler was arrested Tuesday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, on misdemeanor charges of simple battery and mischief, according to the St. Petersburg Police Dept.
Per police records obtained by NFL.com, Fowler was seen "punching" a man after a "brief verbal confrontation." The 22-year-old Fowler then stepped on the man's glasses, "breaking a lens," according to the report. Police stated the man did not claim injury in the incident.
Fowler was arrested shortly before 8:30 p.m. ET and was released from jail at 1:43 a.m. ET Wednesday after posting $650 bond, per Pinellas County Sheriff's Office records.
The Jaguars sent out a statement in response to the arrest, stating they "are aware of the situation involving defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and are currently gathering more information," while adding that club officials have "been in communication with Dante."
The arrest comes one week before Fowler and his teammates are scheduled to report for training camp. Fowler is subject to potential league discipline under the NFL's personal conduct policy.
"We will look into the matter to determine the facts," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told NFL.com.
This isn't the first time Fowler has been arrested. As first reported by Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, Fowler was arrested on misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest charges in Miami Beach in March 2016, per Miami-Dade County Court records. He eventually entered a diversion program and the case was closed in December.
In addition, the NFL and Jaguars reviewed Fowler's actions from a video which surfaced in February 2016 that appeared to show him watching two women as they fought. Fowler later apologized.
A third-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Fowler saw his entire rookie season wiped away by a knee injury. The former Florida star returned in 2016 to post four sacks and 32 tackles, ranking 73rd among edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus.
Fowler in May talked about the potential of a breakout campaign in 2017, saying: "I think it will happen. It was a big learning experience for me last year. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life."
