Sources - Matt Araiza won't punt for Buffalo Bills in preseason finale vs. Carolina Panthers

Buffalo Bills rookie Matt Araiza, who was accused in a lawsuit Thursday of gang raping a 17-year-old girl when he was at San Diego State last year, will not punt in Friday's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The lawsuit, obtained by ESPN, involves allegations against Araiza and two of his former San Diego State teammates. The other men named in the complaint are Zavier Leonard, a redshirt freshman with the Aztecs, and Nowlin Ewaliko, who was a freshman last season but is no longer on the listed roster. All three are accused of rape, gender violence and false imprisonment.

The lawsuit accuses Araiza, who was 21 at the time, of having sex with the then-high school senior, who was under the age of consent in California, outside at an off-campus party held at his residence during the early hours of Oct. 17, 2021. The suit states Araiza then brought her inside a room where at least three other men were, including Leonard and Ewaliko, and that she was repeatedly raped for about an hour and a half until the party was shut down.

Dan Gilleon, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, told ESPN that the Bills were made aware of the allegations as recently as the end of July, when he emailed the team's representation. Araiza was named the Bills' starting punter on Monday.

The NFL said in a statement that it was aware of the incident but declined to comment. Because the alleged rape happened before Araiza was drafted, he would not be subject to the league's personal conduct policy.

Araiza's criminal attorney, Kerry Armstrong, told ESPN that his client spoke with the girl at the party but that the rape allegations are «just untrue.»

Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the