AUGUST 25: Providing further details on Williams’ arrest via the police report, Hill notes (on Twitter) the second-year edge rusher was found to have a vape pen with a synthetic narcotic (which is a controlled substance) in his possession, as well as marijuana. Williams also had a Glock hand gun and 14 rounds of ammunition, and was caught driving 71 mph in a 45-mph zone. Those details will no doubt be central to any league investigation into the situation which takes place separate from the legal process unfolding.

AUGUST 23: Frisco (Texas) police arrested Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams on gun and drug charges Sunday night, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance represent the charges against the second-year edge rusher. While Williams, 24, was back at practice Tuesday, this arrest could certainly produce a suspension, as it comes months after another off-field incident.

A December 2022 car accident led to a police investigation, with Hill adding an arrest warrant was issued for Williams, who was cited for misdemeanor reckless driving. That wreck led to Williams’ hospitalization and a missed Week 16 game, due to a concussion and a neck strain, but further details revealed the Ole Miss alum was driving “up to” 98 mph — in a 55-mph zone — shortly before that crash, Hill adds.

Williams displayed pass-rushing talent as a rookie, registering four sacks as a backup in 15 games. He finished with 10 tackles for loss. While the Cowboys re-signed Dante Fowler and still have Dorance Armstrong under contract behind starters Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, Williams is expected to remain a key part of the team’s deep pass-rushing corps. But Williams’ off-field troubles can now be labeled frequent. A sexual battery charge while at Ole Miss led to a suspension in July 2020. This charge was later dropped, and the Rebels reinstated Williams during that season.

The two incidents involving Williams as a pro could lead to a suspension. Convictions do not need to arise for players to be banned under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Cowboys second-round pick Sam Williams was involved in a car accident Thursday in Plano, Texas, according to WFAA’s Alex Cruz. As a result of injuries from the accident, the rookie defensive end will miss the Cowboys’ Week 16 game against the Eagles, the team announced.

Williams suffered a concussion and a neck strain in the accident, according to the Cowboys. His black Corvette collided with a vehicle that “didn’t appear to yield to oncoming traffic,” Cruz adds. The driver of the other vehicle, a 71-year-old man, is not believed to have suffered serious injuries, either.

Both drivers were hospitalized briefly, but Williams indicated (via Twitter) both he and the other driver are OK. Williams, 23, had the right of way, but police are investigating if the speed at which he was driving contributed to the accident. No alcohol or drugs are suspected to be a factor, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News notes.

The Cowboys added the Ole Miss alum to their injury report Friday; he remains on the team’s active roster. Playing as a rotational rusher, Williams has three sacks, eight tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits this season. He has also forced a fumble and recovered three more.

While the Cowboys use veterans DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong ahead of Williams, the young edge rusher has played a steady role this season. He has played between 16 and 24 defensive snaps in each of Dallas’ past six games. Pro Football Focus rates Williams 44th out of 123 qualified edge rushers this season.