X

Titans' Draft Pick Rashad Weaver Charged with Assault; Accused of Punching Woman

Jenna CiccotelliCorrespondent IIMay 3, 2021

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 7: Defensive End Rashad Weaver #17 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 7, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Seminoles 41 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Rashad Weaver, one of the Tennessee Titans' fourth-round draft picks, has been charged with one count of simple assault and is accused of punching a woman in April, according to John McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The 23-year-old was a consensus All-American at Pitt last season, posting 14.5 tackles for loss through nine games, an ACC-best rate of 1.61 per game. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5 in Pittsburgh. 

According to the criminal complaint, a man who was later identified as Weaver allegedly punched a woman outside a bar in the Southside neighborhood of Pittsburgh on April 18 after the pair got into an argument. Witnesses told police they saw Weaver punch the woman.

Weaver told officers on the scene "that he had no problem hitting a female if they needed it,” per McGonigal. 

The woman was cleared by a medic at the scene, but she later told police that she went to the hospital on April 22 because of vomiting and was diagnosed with a concussion. 

Weaver later denied the charges via a statement from his attorney, saying the allegations were "completely false and reckless."

John McGonigal @jmcgonigal9

Rashad Weaver’s attorney has released a statement:<br><br>“Without question and without hesitation, we deny Rashad punched anyone, especially a woman.” https://t.co/fC2CZv5jDN pic.twitter.com/a7JQOmjnwg

The Titans also issued a statement, saying they were unaware of the charges when they drafted Weaver:

Ben Arthur @benyarthur

Titans statement on Rashad Weaver: "We were made aware of this news this morning. We obviously take this seriously and are in the process of gathering details and working with the league."

Weaver, a Cooper City, Florida native, was in Florida for the draft. His Oct. 5 hearing is two days after the Sunday of Week 4 on the schedule.