MANVEL, Texas -- A Houston Texans player has been arrested and charged with assault, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Brazoria County sheriff's deputies said Jerome Mathis, 24, was charged with assault of a family member for an incident at a Manvel, Texas, home on Friday.

Investigators said Mathis' common-law wife, Erica Smith, told them that Mathis was drunk when he got home. He was upset and began yelling when he could not find the charger for his cellular phone, officials said.

Smith, who is six months pregnant, told deputies that Mathis pushed her onto a bed and choked her after she gave him the charger.

A deputy said she saw a red mark on Smith's neck.

Smith said she told Mathis she was going to call the police after he stopped choking her. He then left the home, officials said.

Smith declined medical treatment.

Charges were filed against Mathis on Saturday and he was taken into custody on Sunday.

If convicted, Mathis could face up to one year in jail and/or a $4,000 fine.

Mathis has been in the news recently because of problems he has had with his pit bulls getting loose. Several residents of an apartment complex complained that the dogs were trying to attack them.

Mathis is a wide receiver and has been with the Houston Texans since 2005. The team finished the 2007 season with 8 wins and 8 losses.