Downtown Des Moines is not normally thought of as a place fraught with danger.
Reputations can be deceiving, though. Chiefs center Rob Bruggeman was punched in the face early Sunday morning in Des Moines by a man named Erwin Arturo Castro-Cortez. According to the Des Moines Register, police officers witnessed Castro-Cortez shove Bruggeman and then punch him in the face in what they say was an unprovoked assault. Castro-Cortez has been charged with assault causing bodily injury, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Bruggeman played at Iowa in college and broke into the NFL with the Buccaneers in 2009 as an undrafted free agent. He spent two seasons on the Falcons practice squad, but got cut by Atlanta at the end of last year’s training camp. He signed to Kansas City’s practice squad near the end of last season and is trying to win a spot on the 53-man roster this time around.
Bruggeman had a cut on his upper lip, but refused medical attention at the scene. Given the nature of life as an offensive lineman in the NFL, Bruggeman’s ability to take a punch might help him earn a role with the Chiefs this season.