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Cardinals' Jonathan Dwyer charged with assaulting wife

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been formally charged with felony aggravated assault of his wife.
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Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been formally charged with assaulting his wife, according to the Associated Press

An indictment showed that Dwyer was charged with felony aggravated assault and eight misdemeanors, including assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.

The charges stem from two incidents at Dwyer's Phoenix apartment in July. 

Dwyer was booked on Sept. 17 after investigators said he headbutted his wife during an argument, then punched her and threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son the next day. 

The formal charges do not indict him for any crimes related to the child. 

The Cardinals placed Dwyer on the reserve/non-football illness list the day after his booking. They will continue to pay him and are reportedly evaluating his mental health after there were suicide mentions in the police report.

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Police said Dwyer hid in a bathroom and threatened to kill himself in front of his wife and their child if she told police about the assault.

Dwyer is one of several NFL players involved in domestic violence cases, a list that includes former Ravens running back Ray Rice, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, and 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald. 

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Hardy is appealing a conviction and has been placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list in the meantime. McDonald has not been charged and is playing while his investigation is ongoing. 

There is a status conference regarding Dwyer set for Oct. 6. He cannot play again for Arizona this season.

- Molly Geary