Bears rookie Louis faces assault charge

SAN DIEGO -- Chicago Bears rookie offensive lineman Lance Louis is facing a misdemeanor assault charge for an altercation that happened while he was playing at San Diego State.

The City Attorney's Office filed the charge against Louis, and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 23 in San Diego.

Authorities say Louis assaulted SDSU teammate Nick Sandford in a team meeting room last fall. Sandford suffered a concussion, broken eardrum and fractured cheekbone.

The charge is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The Bears have said they were aware of the incident before they drafted Louis in the seventh round.

Louis declined to address the charge at the Bears' practice facility in Lake Forest, saying, "I've got nothing to say about it. I can't talk about it right now. It's a legal matter. It's being handled. That's about it."