GREEN BAY, Wis. - The family of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver claims his father was beaten by police in Houston and hospitalized.

The family issued a statement Wednesday saying Marvin Driver Jr. was stopped for outstanding traffic warrants and was to be taken to jail, but was beaten before getting there. According to the family, he can communicate through notes and has described "the torture he went through ..."

Houston police issued a statement saying that after the arrest, Marvin Driver Jr. was placed in the back of a patrol unit, and when he got to jail he was unresponsive and paramedics were called. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The hospital's on-call staff did not immediately respond to pages from The Associated Press seeking information on his condition.

"Mr. Marvin Driver Jr. is now at Hermann Hospital in ICU where he can't even speak," relatives said in a statement, according to SI.com. "Doctors say there is some bleeding on his brain from blunt force trauma."

The Internal Affairs Division of the Houston Police Department is to investigate the family's claims that two officers assaulted Driver. Both officers remain on duty during the investigation.

At a news conference in Houston, family spokesman Quanell X — a community activist — called for the officers to be suspended while the investigation continues.

"We left him in perfect condition. I can tell by the police officers, the way they was grabbing him and pulling and snatching him, you know, that he was in trouble," Winston Driver, Marvin Driver's brother, said during the news conference, held outside his mother's house, where his sibling was arrested.

In Green Bay, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Donald Driver was excused from practice for a personal situation, but said it would be "inappropriate" to elaborate.

Special feature NFL power rankings: Who's the 1? Make your own rankings, compare them to NBC Sports crews NBCSports.com

"He is dealing with that right now," McCarthy said. "He's been excused."

McCarthy said he expects Driver to return in time for the Packers' next game, at New Orleans on Monday night.

"That is the intent," McCarthy said.

Driver's agent, Jordan Woy, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Associated Press.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he hadn't talked to Driver but was aware of the situation.

"This is a family in here, definitely, and we support each other," Rodgers said. "It's a difficult situation, but we're just going to come (together) behind him and pray for him and be there for him when he returns."

Also on NBCSports.com   Video: Legends say Federer greatest of his generation Curran: McNair — tough, talented, great  |    Images Ventre: Artest puts everything in jeopardy for Lakers Blyleven: Days of .400 hitter are dead and gone   NFL video: How to build the ultimate offense

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Shooting unveils different sides of McNair Police rule ex-QB McNair’s death a homicide PFT: McNair's wife reportedly didn't know about girlfriend   Public memorial, viewings set for McNair Curran: Tough, talented — McNair lived up to the hype   Slideshow: McNair's career highs, lows PFT: McNair's ex-teammates bemoan his loss PFT: Shock, sadness at McNair's death Discuss: How will you remember Steve McNair? PFT: Favre not so popular in Vikings' camp? NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: