Pitts is facing a charge of felony evading arrest in a motor vehicle, Houston Police Department spokeswoman Gabe Ortiz said. He was released from the city jail early Friday after posting bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

"It was clearly a misunderstanding," Pitts said after practice Friday. "I would never disrespect the law. My father has been a police officer for 30 years. I have the utmost respect for law enforcement. It was a huge, huge misunderstanding. I'm sorry."

He apologized to his family and teammates, owner Bob McNair and the police. Coach Gary Kubiak said Pitts will play Sunday at Tennessee.

Pitts was one of four drivers pulled over Thursday during a traffic sting initiated after residents in the neighborhood complained that drivers were making illegal turns. Pitts initially cooperated after he was flagged down and told he was stopped for making an illegal turn, Ortiz said. The officer also noticed Pitts was not wearing his seat belt, police said.

While the officer was writing a ticket for another driver, he heard a driver yell that Pitts was "getting away," Ortiz said.

The officer and his supervisor got in separate cars and chased Pitts for less than a mile, where police said he stopped and was arrested.

McNair talked with Pitts for several minutes after practice and called it was a "minor incident."

"He did not understand that they wanted him to stay there, let's just leave it at that," McNair said. "He thought he'd been waved on. We'll let them look into it further and determine what the facts are."

Pitts, a guard, is the only player to have started each game in franchise history.

"I'm disappointed in the situation," Kubiak said. "It's a distraction and we don't need distractions. ... but Chester's got a job to do. Myself and his teammates are expecting him to step up and play good football this weekend."

McNair said Pitts was upset and embarrassed about his arrest.