Last Updated on January 7, 2023 by CCAR Staff
Rams defensive back T.J. McDonald was arrested Tuesday morning and accused of driving under the influence of a substance other than alcohol, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said.
Police said McDonald, 25, a former USC standout preparing to enter his fourth season with the Rams, hit a parked car in Woodland Hills on Tuesday morning, then was questioned on the scene.
McDonald was driven to a local police station, where officers allegedly determined that McDonald was under the influence, possibly of a prescription drug or a narcotic, and arrested him at 8:30 a.m., the spokesman said.
McDonald was released on $300 bail shortly after 6 p.m. and has a tentative court date of June 3.
A third-round draft pick in 2013, McDonald has played 37 games with the Rams and started all of them. Last season, he had 63 tackles in 11 games before he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in December.
“We are aware of the incident involving T.J. McDonald this morning. We are gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”
McDonald became the latest Rams player to deal with legal problems. Running back Tre Mason was arrested in Florida in March and faces misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, marijuana possession and reckless driving. Mason has pleaded not guilty.
The Rams made news last month when they used a fourth-round draft pick on tight end Tyler Higbee, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault charges in Ohio.
Also, on Tuesday, the Rams signed two free-agent receivers: J.J. Worton, who was arrested in January in Massachusetts and charged with assault, and Duke Williams, who was kicked off the Auburn football team last year after various alleged misdeeds, including a bar brawl.
