NFL’s battle with drinking and driving continues as Keenan Allen formally charged in Indianapolis

Keenan Allen has been formally charged with multiple counts of drinking and driving and the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver waived his initial court hearing on Wednesday, suggesting he’s looking for a quick resolution to his legal troubles.

According to court records, the charges against Allen were filed on Tuesday.

Allen has been charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent (ACE) of 0.15 or more and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

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Allen, 34, is only the latest person with ties to the NFL to run afoul of law enforcement and the courts due to intoxication-related issues.

Viking assistant coach Gerald Alexander, Commanders assistant coach Ben Steele, former Eagles running back Miles Sanders, former Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo, and former wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., have all been arrested in connection with DUI-related charges in 2026 alone.

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Steele was eventually fired by the Commanders. Alexander was suspended by the Vikings. Romo was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Wisconsin after pleading no contest on Sept. 1, 2026. He is on indefinite leave from CBS.

Allen, meanwhile, faces a possible jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of no more than $5,000 for the ACE charge. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated carries a jail term of no more than 60 days and a fine of no more than $500.

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It is unlikely Allen will wind up in jail. It’s more likely his counsel and the state will strike a plea deal, a source told OutKick.

The 14-year NFL veteran was arrested in the early morning hours of Aug. 30 after he played in a preseason game for the Colts the evening before. He submitted to a portable breathalyzer test and failed to register a reading twice, according to court records.

Police described the elite athlete as “extremely short winded.” Another test attempt at 1:22 a.m. produced a reading of 0.224, which is nearly three times the legal limit in Indiana.

During booking, records say, other officers noted signs of intoxication from Allen, including unsteady balance and “bloodshot and watery eyes.”

Allen failed several standard sobriety tests, showing a lack of smooth eye movement, difficulty in walking and difficulty standing on one leg.

Allen consented to having his blood drawn before being taken to the Marion County Jail.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard said that team discipline would be handled internally and the club would let the legal process take its course.

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“Good people make mistakes,” Ballard told reporters before the start of the regular season. “He’s a tremendous human being. Give him some grace and he’ll work through the process of the legal system.”

Allen’s trouble isn’t only with the legal process. He also faces possible league discipline under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, which typically assigns a three-game suspension for alcohol-related offenses.

The NFL can also raise the level of a possible suspension given Allen’s high ACE level or lower a suspension penalty on appeal based on Allen’s otherwise clean history.

Allen played in the Colts’ loss to the Ravens in their regular-season opener and caught six passes for 32 yards.

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