Former NFL safety Robert Nelson Jr. was arrested in December on suspicion of illegal possession of a handgun, according to TMZ Sports.

The outlet reported police in Los Angeles approached Nelson's car on Dec. 22 in a mall parking lot because it was parked in a handicap spot and lacked the proper placard. Officers said they saw a loaded handgun on the floorboard when looking into the unoccupied automobile.

Nelson, who's facing a charge of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, has a court appearance scheduled for February.

The 33-year-old spent three seasons in the NFL, appearing in 20 games across spells with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and New York Jets. He had 24 total tackles and two pass breakups.

Before arriving in the league, Nelson was a first-team All-Pac 12 honoree in 2013 at Arizona State. Having last suited up in the NFL in 2017, he has since played in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football and the XFL to extend his professional career.

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