Lions waive guard Rodney Austin after assault, larceny arrest

Lions guard Rodney Austin was waived by the team after an arrest for assault and larceny.

Detroit Lions reserve offensive lineman Rodney Austin was waived by the team on Tuesday after he was arrested and charged with four misdemeanor counts, including charges of larceny and assault.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C) Police Department, Austin was arrested on April 17 and charged with assault on a female, interfering with emergency communication, assault on a child under the age of 12 and larceny.

Details of the arrest were not immediately available. The Lions did not provide an official reason for the release. 

Austin, 26, spent most of the past three seasons on team’s practice squad.

Detroit originally signed Austin in 2012 after he went undrafted out of Elon College in North Carolina. He was active for the final four games of the 2013 season and appeared in one game. He did not play at all last season.

- Scooby Axson