The Washington Commanders released kicker Brandon McManus days after two flight attendants filed a lawsuit against him alleging he sexually assaulted them during a flight to London for an international game while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday (June 2) night.
"Commanders are releasing kicker Brandon McManus, who is being accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed last month. Commanders continue OTAs on Monday and they do so without currently having a kicker on their roster," Schefter wrote on his X account.
The women -- identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the Duval County Circuit Civil Court lawsuit filed last Friday (May 24) -- claim that McManus rubbed and grinded himself against them, while also accusing Jaguars, who were also named as defendants, of failing to supervise him, leading to an unsafe working environment for the staff workers on the Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight, which took place on September 28, 2023. The accusers are seeking more than $1 million and demanding a jury trial in relation to the incident.
The Commanders, who signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million contract in March, confirmed they were aware of the accusations against the kicker following ESPN's report last Monday (May 27).
"Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter," the Commanders said in a statement obtained by ESPN. "We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon's representation, and will reserve further comment at this time."