Bills P Matt Araiza Won’t Play In Preseason Game vs Panthers Amid Rape Allegations

On Thursday, news broke that Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl, along with two San Diego State football players.

The Buffalo Bills came under-fire after it was reported that they knew about Araiza’s disturbing lawsuit but still stuck by him and cut the punter that he was competing with.

Ahead of the team’s third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, the Bills announced that Araiza won’t play despite traveling with the team to Carolina:

Bills’ rookie Matt Araiza, who has been accused along with two others of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year in a civil lawsuit filed on Thursday, will not punt for Buffalo in tonight’s preseason game at Carolina, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2022

In addition, Joe Buscaglia reports that Araiza isn’t even in team-issued gear when he arrived at the stadium:

It is worth pointing out that he is not in team-issued sweats in this picture while the rest of the players the team tweeted out were all wearing the same team-issued sweats. He will not be playing in any capacity tonight according to @ByTimGraham. https://t.co/Oil3hDDnRW

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 26, 2022

It sure sounds like the Bills will make a decision on Araiza’s future soon.