NEWARK, N.J. – New York Jets running back Mike Goodson is facing drug and weapons charges after he was found in a car with an acquaintance early Friday morning on Interstate 80 in New Jersey.

The Jets said they were aware of the arrest and were gathering information.

According to state police, Goodson was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 31-year-old Garant Evans of Roselle. After receiving a 911 call from a tow-truck driver at about 3:15 a.m., police found them stopped in the left lane of Interstate 80 west in Denville, about 25 miles west of New York city.

State Police Sgt. Adam Grossman said both men were charged with marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and weapons offences stemming from a 45-calibre semi-automatic handgun found in the vehicle. Grossman wouldn’t say whether either man was the registered owner of the gun.

Evans also was charged with DWI, several traffic violations and possession of a weapon with a prior felony.

Both men were being held Friday pending transfer to the Morris County jail, Evans on $150,000 bail and Goodson on $50,000 bail. It was not immediately known when they were scheduled to appear in court.

Goodson, 25, of Spring, Tex., played three seasons for Carolina and one for Oakland before the Jets signed him to a three-year, $9 million deal in March. He received a $1 million signing bonus.

The Panthers drafted him in 2009 out of Texas A&M. He ran for 221 yards and caught 16 passes for 195 yards last season for the Raiders.

Two weeks ago, the Jets cut defensive end Claude Davis and cornerback Cliff Harris after they were arrested and charged with marijuana possession in Morristown, several miles from where Goodson was arrested.

The Jets train in nearby Florham Park.