Cowboys safety Markquese Bell was arrested Friday in Prosper, Texas, on drug charges, according to Collin County records. The records show Bell was booked on 1 felony count of possession of a controlled substance and 1 misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
No details were released about the circumstances surrounding the arrest. The 26-year-old Bell has been part of the Cowboys since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and he played all 17 games last season while appearing on 32 percent of the team's defensive snaps and 63 percent of its special teams snaps.
Bell's path to the NFL had already been unusual. He arrived at Maryland as a highly sought-after recruit, was suspended from the team and left before ever playing a game. He later transferred to Coffeyville Community College and then to Florida A&M before reaching Dallas.
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The arrest leaves the Cowboys facing a situation that is more immediate than it is complicated: one of their active rotational players is now dealing with criminal charges, and the team has not yet put any public explanation around what happened in Prosper. What comes next will likely determine whether this remains a legal matter or becomes something that cuts into Bell's role with the team.
