Wednesday's NFL: Eagles reserve lineman waives arraignment in rape case

Cambridge, Ohio — A reserve offensive lineman for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles will make his initial court appearance in Ohio on rape and kidnapping charges next month after waiving his arraignment in the case.

Josh Sills, an undrafted free agent who appeared in just one game this season, was scheduled to appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 16. He instead chose to waive his appearance, and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Sills remains free on a $25,000 cash bond he posted and he's is due to appear at a pretrial hearing March 9.

The rookie, who played at West Virginia and Oklahoma State, was indicted Jan. 31 by a Guernsey County grand jury. His attorney, Michael Connick, has said the allegations are false and that Sills will be aggressively defended.

Sills was listed as a backup guard and played just four snaps on special teams against the Cardinals on Oct. 9 — the one game he played. He was on the inactive list for most of the year and was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after he was indicted, meaning he couldn't practice, play or travel with the Eagles as they prepared for their Super Bowl matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The indictment accuses Sills, who is from Sarahsville, Ohio, of engaging in sexual activity that was not consensual and holding a woman against her will on Dec. 5, 2019. A statement issued by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the incident was immediately reported, and that the county sheriff’s office conducted a detailed investigation.

Ex-NFL player recovers after saving his kids from drowning

Pensacola, Fla. — A former NFL running back said he's on the road to recovery after he nearly died while saving his two children from drowning in the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle.

Peyton Hillis issued a statement on Twitter, thanking those who helped him following the Jan. 4 incident on Pensacola Beach. He was initially on a ventilator, but was released from the hospital in mid-January.

“I just wanted to come on here and thank everyone for all the prayers and love y’all have given me,” Hillis wrote. “It’s really made all the difference."

Hillis, 37, said he hasn't done any interviews because it was a “very traumatic time" and he wanted to keep his family out of the public eye.

“But I did want to come on here and show my appreciation for everyone who helped save my life and for all of your prayers and love and support. I left the hospital with no worries and concerns and should make a 100% recovery. I’m a very lucky and blessed man,” Hillis wrote.

Hillis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2008 and also played with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants. He retired in 2015.

Steelers hire Seahawks' Curry as inside linebackers coach

Pittsburgh — Aaron Curry is the new inside linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Wednesday.

Curry spent the last four years working in various roles for the Seattle Seahawks, including assistant defensive line/defensive ends coach in 2022.

Curry replaces Jerry Olsavsky, who had been Pittsburgh's inside linebackers coach since 2015. Olsavsky spent more than 20 years with the organization as a player and coach but was not retained for the 2023 season.

Olsavsky's role was diminished last season after the Steelers hired Brian Flores as a senior defensive assistant with an emphasis on linebackers. Flores left the Steelers earlier this month to become the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

Curry inherits a unit that will enter 2023 in flux. Devin Bush, a first-round draft pick in 2019, and Rob Spillane will become free agents next month.

Bush underperformed following his return from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in 2020 and saw his playing time all but disappear at the end of the 2022 season. Spillane has been a solid contributor in his four seasons with Pittsburgh and finished third on the team in tackles in 2022 behind fellow inside linebacker Myles Jack and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Curry played four seasons in the NFL after Seattle selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft. He spent two-plus seasons in Seattle before being traded to Oakland during the 2011 season. Curry played seven games for the Raiders through 2012. He attended training camp with the New York Giants in 2013 but did not make the final roster.

Curry's arrival is the latest in a series of moves by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to overhaul his staff. With Olsavsky's departure, the longest-tenured assistant on staff is defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who joined the Steelers in February 2018.