Browns DE Lonnie Phelps waived after crashing car into restaurant

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th June, 16:07 2024

Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas linebacker Lonnie Phelps (LB25) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns waived defensive end Lonnie Phelps on Thursday, one day after police said he crashed his SUV into a Florida restaurant.

Phelps faces charges of drunken driving and damaging property following the incident at the Red Shoe Island Bistro in Key West.

Phelps, 23, was taken into custody after refusing to cooperate with officers, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office report obtained by Cleveland.com.

Photographs reportedly from the scene were posted online by TMZ Sports and showed a vehicle wedged into the side of the restaurant. Reports estimated the damages at $300,000.

Phelps signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2023 and he spent last season on their practice squad. Cleveland signed him to a reserve/future contract in January.

Phelps played college football at Miami (Ohio) from 2019-21 and at Kansas in 2022. He recorded 23 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in 41 games.

--Field Level Media