LACONIA, N.H. — New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung has been indicted in New Hampshire on a charge of cocaine possession, according to court paperwork released Thursday.
A Belknap County grand jury indicted Chung, 32, on Aug. 8. Chung knowingly possessed cocaine on June 25 while in Meredith, authorities said.
Chung’s arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
Town records show that Chung owns a lakeside home in Meredith, the Laconia Sun reported.
It is not clear whether Chung has an attorney who can speak for him. The court file doesn’t list one.
“We are aware of the reports regarding Patrick Chung,” the Patriots said in a statement. “We will not be commenting while his judicial proceedings take place.”
Chung has been an integral part of the Patriots defense during his two stints with the team. New England drafted him in the second round in 2009. He left in free agency in 2012 and signed with the Eagles.
He spent one year in Philadelphia and returned to New England in 2014. He won Super Bowl rings with the Patriots to conclude the 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Chung had offseason forearm surgery for an injury suffered during the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory over the Rams in February and has not appeared in a preseason game. He has been at practices, but has been wearing a red no-contact jersey.
He was a team captain last season and signed a contract extension in April that runs through the 2021 season.
49ERS: Jimmy Garoppolo can retrace his infamous steps Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, the scene of the crime, where his season got robbed and his career trajectory suddenly became dependent on his left knee’s reconstruction.
Coach Kyle Shanahan plans to play him the first half at Kansas City, allowing Garoppolo ample time to rediscover his offensive rhythm and attain any mental catharsis.
“It definitely will be a little weird getting back there,” Garoppolo said Thursday, “but I’m just trying to treat it like a normal game.”
It’s the dress-rehearsal exhibition, and it’s a chance to atone for last week’s rickety debut that was so roundly panned.
Where was the pocket confidence? Did the pass rush truly prevent him from stepping into throws? Was he worried Preseason No. 2 would be The End for his left knee?
“Any time you come back from injury, there are a bunch of mental hurdles you’ve got to get over, even when you’re healthy and feel good,” Shanahan said.
“I’m sure there is some stuff with it just being eerie going back to that same place,” Shanahan added, “but I haven’t talked to him specifically about it.”
CARDINALS-EAGLES TRADE: Arizona acquired defensive lineman Bruce Hector in a trade Thursday that sent safety Rudy Ford to the Eagles.
The move is pending physicals for both players.
The 24-year-old Hector adds depth for the Cardinals on the defensive line. The 6-foot-2, 296-pounder played in eight games for the Eagles last season and had three tackles and a half sack.
The 5-11, 204-pound Ford has played the past two seasons for the Cardinals, mostly on special teams.
CHARGERS: Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman signed a deal to return to the team.
Inman played 41 games for the team from 2014 to ’17. He was traded to Chicago in 2017 and played for Indianapolis last season. He was in New England’s training camp before being released Aug. 18.
Inman’s best season was with the Chargers in 2016, when he had 58 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns.
LIONS: The team signed Damon “Snacks” Harrison to an $11 million extension, keeping the defensive tackle in Detroit for one more year.
Harrison has two years left on the $46 million contract he signed with the Giants. Detroit acquired the former All-Pro in a trade from with New York last season for a fifth-round draft pick.
Send questions/comments to the editors.