Seahawks’ Dee Eskridge apologizes, ‘regrets’ February incident

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge has returned to the team after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Eskridge took the opportunity to apologize for his involvement in an incident of alleged domestic violence that led to his arrest earlier this year.

In February, Eskridge was arrested in Bellevue, Washington, after an altercation with the mother of his child. Court records obtained by ESPN reveal that he was charged with fourth-degree assault/domestic violence and interfering with reporting domestic violence, both gross misdemeanors. However, the latter charge has since been dismissed.

In his first public comments since the arrest, Eskridge expressed remorse and took full responsibility for his actions. He acknowledged the impact it had on the organization, his family, and those affected by the incident. Eskridge stated that he has learned and grown from the experience and is eager to move forward and be the person he is meant to be.

According to the criminal complaint filed in King County District Court, the alleged incident occurred on Feb. 4. The woman involved reported that Eskridge had been dealing with anger management issues and experienced periodic fits of rage. On the evening in question, she sensed his anger when he arrived home. To protect herself and their then-3-month-old daughter, she locked herself in their bedroom. However, Eskridge managed to enter the room after hearing the child cry.

The woman claimed that Eskridge forcefully shoved her, smacked her hand when she tried to create space between them, and threw her to the ground. She further stated that he used his hands to pin her down before she kicked him to break free. Eskridge allegedly grabbed her neck without constricting her airway or blood vessels and shoved her to the ground a second time. He also took her personal phone and Apple Watch to prevent her from calling for help.

Upon police arrival, Eskridge was found holding the child. Despite initially denying any physical altercation, officers observed scrapes and red marks on the woman’s arms, neck, and chest, leading to Eskridge’s arrest based on probable cause.

Eskridge later gave an additional statement, claiming that he sensed the woman’s mood was off and didn’t want his daughter to be near her in that state. He alleged that she stumbled and fell backward when he entered the room, and she scratched his neck. However, officers did not observe any obvious abrasions on Eskridge’s neck.

Eskridge pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on personal recognizance. The charge of interfering with domestic violence reporting was dismissed, while he received a deferred prosecution for the assault charge, which includes supervised probation and domestic violence therapy.

Eskridge confirmed that he has been undergoing therapy and regards it as a crucial part of his personal growth. He emphasized that everyone makes mistakes and expressed regret for the incident. His attorney, Jared Ausserer, expressed hope that the case will be dismissed soon.

Eskridge’s suspension has come to an end, and he has returned to team headquarters. Although it remains uncertain whether he will be activated for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, Coach Pete Carroll praised his physical readiness and preparation.

Eskridge, the 56th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has faced various injuries in his first two seasons, limiting his appearances to 20 games. However, the Seahawks have high hopes for him due to his speed and explosiveness.

ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne contributed to this report.