Kyle Shanahan Says Keenan Allen Suspension Is Possible This Season

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said it is “possible” that newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen could be suspended this season following an August arrest in Indianapolis for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, though league discipline timing remains entirely uncertain.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 49ers traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the 34-year-old wide receiver. Allen now faces a potential minimum three-game NFL suspension stemming from the August 30 incident.

Could Allen miss games this season?

“We’re just waiting,” Shanahan said when asked about the timing of league discipline. “We know the league handles that. It could go either way. So waiting for them to say.”

An NFL spokesman said that the league has been monitoring all legal developments in the matter, which remains under active review. The league typically waits for the underlying legal process to conclude before determining player discipline for alcohol-related arrests.

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“It’s an ongoing matter, so I can’t really talk on it,” Allen said.

What does the legal timeline look like?

The next scheduled event in Allen’s criminal case is a remote attorney conference on Dec. 7, based on a case summary provided by the Marion County (Ind.) Clerk of Courts office. Allen’s defense attorney, Tyler Helmond, did not respond to a phone message.

Police arrested Allen at 1 a.m. in downtown Indianapolis after an officer found his vehicle parked in a no-parking zone. The responding officer reported a strong odor of alcohol, and a subsequent blood-alcohol test recorded a reading of .224%, which is nearly three times the legal limit.

Prosecutors charged Allen with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15% or more and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, both misdemeanors.

How has the NFL handled similar DUI cases?

Recent league precedent suggests that a suspension may not arrive before the conclusion of the current season. Historical timelines for alcohol-related suspensions point toward a delayed penalty:

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Charles Snowden received a three-game suspension in July for a December 2024 DUI arrest.
Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland received a three-end suspension in December 2025 following a February 2025 arrest, coming roughly one month after a guilty plea.
San Francisco wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison both drew three-game suspensions in August 2025 for misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from late 2024 incidents.

Given this timeline pattern, league watchers note it is unlikely Allen will serve a suspension before Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, a date that falls less than six months after his initial arrest.