INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen is expected to play in the team's season opener despite his arrest on Sunday morning for drunken driving, general manager Chris Ballard said.
Allen was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. The NFL has not addressed the issue and could well wait until adjudication before handing down any discipline. But Ballard said any internal discipline by the Colts will not involve Allen missing playing time.
"I'm not going to comment on what happened, but what I'm going to tell you is good people make mistakes," Ballard said. "And he's a tremendous human being. Give him some grace."
Asked directly whether Allen would play in the Colts' opening game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13, Ballard said, "he will play." Ballard cited Allen's lack of any character issues in his previous 13 seasons. He said the matter would be addressed by the team but declined to disclose details.
Ballard also said former Colts and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and Colts coach Shane Steichen -- both of whom worked alongside Allen with the Chargers - vouch for his character.
"Fourteen years in the league and no issues," Ballard said. "Decorated career, decorated teammate. As you know, our relationship with Philip Rivers, I know Philip holds him in extremely high regard. And [Steichen] was with him. And after you meet his mom and dad, who are just amazing people, we feel good about who he is. Unequivocally feel good about who Keenan Allen is."
Allen signed with the Colts last month to help bolster their wide receivers unit. The 34-year-old ranks 13th in NFL history with 1,055 receptions and has 12,051 receiving yards and 70 touchdown catches.
