Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman was arrested Friday evening in South L.A. after authorities found multiple firearms in his vehicle during a traffic stop, including two AR-style rifles deemed illegal under California law. Perryman, 31, was booked on a felony charge and remained in custody as of Saturday morning.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ Sports that Perryman was headed to a gun range when deputies stopped his vehicle. A search reportedly turned up three handguns and two AR rifles in the trunk. The handguns were legal, but the rifles weren’t compliant with state regulations, leading to the felony charge.
A representative for Perryman said in a statement to TMZ that the team is “still gathering facts” and will fully cooperate with authorities. “Denzel is a respected veteran in the NFL and a dedicated father, teammate, and professional,” the statement reads. “While we do not take this situation lightly, we remain confident that the matter will be resolved fairly and in accordance with the law.”
Trouble Off the Field as Season Looms
This is Perryman’s first run-in with the law involving felony charges. He’s scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, just as NFL training camps begin to pick up steam across the league. The Chargers have not yet issued a public comment on the situation.
The timing couldn’t be worse. After bouncing between teams over the past few years-including the Panthers, Raiders, and Texans-Perryman made his return to the Chargers in 2024. It was seen as a homecoming for a player originally drafted by the franchise back in 2015.
But off-field trouble isn’t entirely new for the linebacker. In 2023, while with the Houston Texans, Perryman was suspended three games for repeated violations of the NFL’s player safety rules, including helmet-to-helmet hits (NFL.com).
How the NFL handles this latest incident remains to be seen. Under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, Perryman could face disciplinary action even before the legal process plays out.
For now, the veteran remains behind bars. And with preseason looming, one of the Chargers’ most experienced defenders is now at the center of a very different kind of battle.
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