Ben Cleveland's short Los Angeles Chargers stint ended after a Georgia traffic stop turned a speeding allegation into a much bigger roster problem. The former Ravens guard was arrested on July 16 for allegedly violating the terms of a limited driving permit, and the Chargers released him less than two weeks later.
According to an incident report reviewed by The New York Post, Cleveland was stopped around 9:23 a.m. in Oconee County after allegedly reaching 72 mph in a 55-mph zone. He reportedly handed over an old driver's license, and authorities determined he had a limited permit connected to a previous DUI case; Cleveland allegedly acknowledged he was not driving to work or home, the types of trips allowed under the permit.
The Chargers Made Their Move Before Camp
The Chargers announced on July 28 that they had signed long snapper Peter Bowden and released Cleveland in a corresponding move. The team's brief transaction notice did not explain the decision, but the timing placed Cleveland's departure just before Los Angeles began its 2026 training-camp schedule.
The report also details an arrest shaped by Cleveland's size. Authorities said the 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman had his hands positioned in front of his body and was placed in two sets of handcuffs before being taken to a nearby police station, where he was later released, according to The Post.
A Second Driving Case After A Prior DUI
The July case did not accuse Cleveland of driving under the influence; the reported allegations were speeding and violating the limited-permit conditions. But it followed a February 2025 DUI arrest in Georgia, when a breath test reportedly showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.178, more than twice the state's legal limit, according to The Associated Press.
That earlier case had already carried professional consequences. ESPN reported that Cleveland pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025, received one year of probation and was suspended three games without pay by the NFL for violating its substance-abuse policy.
Why The Limited Permit Mattered
Georgia's Department of Driver Services says limited driving permits can restrict motorists to specific purposes such as employment, medical care, school, court, probation, community service or treatment programs. The agency says a conviction for violating permit restrictions or another law involving vehicle movement can result in revocation of the permit and an additional six months on the underlying suspension.
Cleveland joined the Chargers in January after five seasons with Baltimore, where the team says he appeared in 64 games and made seven starts. He is now facing the fallout from a case that, on paper, began with a 17-mph speeding allegation but ended with his place on an NFL roster; an arrest remains an allegation, not a conviction.
