Stanley Wilson Jr., a defensive back who played three seasons for the Lions, died at the age of 40 last month.
Wilson died on February 1 at Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.com. At the time, no cause of death was given.
This week, his family is making shocking claims. They state he did not simply collapse and die while in police custody, rather they believe he was beaten by law enforcement.
The attorney representing Wilson Jr.’s family, John Carpenter, held a news conference on Tuesday and stated pictures of Wilson Jr.’s body showed he was a victim of excessive force.
Pictures were released of his injuries.
After spending five years at Stanford, Wilson was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft.
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He was good for three seasons until injuries derailed his career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2007, then suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during the 2008 preseason, and never played
Wilson—the son of ex-Cincinnati Bengals running back Stanley Wilson Sr.—played 32 career games, recording a total of 89 tackles.
His post-career wasn’t all that great as he was arrested back in September for breaking into a home and taking a shower in the fountain.
