CAMBRIDGE — Former Meadowbrook High and West Virginia University football player Josh Sills was acquitted Friday on rape and kidnapping charges in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court.

Sills had been accused of forcing a woman to engage in sexual activity against her will in 2019, when he was still a student at WVU. Sills’ attorneys said that the sexual activity was consensual.

Following the jury’s decision, Sills, now an offensive lineman with the Philadelphia Eagles, thanked several groups after being given the opportunity to do so by Judge Daniel Padden.

“I’d like to say thank you (to the jury) for everything you’ve done,” he said, “paying attention, doing your due diligence in listening to the testimony. Judge Padden, I’d like to thank you. I’d like to thank my family, who has supported me since day one. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m glad that was proven today.”

After the verdict, Sills attorney Michael Connick told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Sills expected to travel to Philadelphia and rejoin the Eagles in the next couple of days.

“He’ll be able to build his football career and grow as a person and be successful in all of the things that he chooses to do. It’s unfortunate he was accused of this. It cost him a Super Bowl appearance. … He will move on and live his life in a very honorable fashion.”

The Eagles, in a statement, said they were aware of the jury’s verdict.

“The organization has monitored the situation,” the team said. “The NFL has removed him from the Commissioner’s Exempt List and he will return to the team’s active roster.”