Broncos’ Gordon arrested on suspicion of DUI

Fangio ‘disappointed,’ won’t rule RB out yet for Sunday

ENGLEWOOD — Broncos running back Melvin Gordon was excused from practice Wednesday, hours after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and speeding according to documents filed in Denver County Court.

Gordon was driving 71 mph in a 35 mph zone late Tuesday when he was pulled over by Denver police near Fifth Ave., and Speer Blvd., according to a probable cause statement.

When officers approached Gordon, they noted his “speech was slurred, breath had a moderate odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage, balance was swaying, eyes were watery.”

Gordon consented to a field sobriety test, which he failed, the report said. The results of his blood test are pending. Along with driving under the influence, Gordon was cited for driving 25 mph to 39 mph over the speed limit, the documents show.

Normally, individuals arrested on suspicion of DUI are taken to Denver’s Downtown Detention Center. But under COVID-19 protocols designed to limit the number of people in the city jail, police released Gordon at the scene to a sober driver, a Denver police spokesman said in an email.

Gordon is set for arraignment on Nov. 13.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he didn’t want Gordon to practice, “until we get to the bottom of everything — talk to the league (and) get all of the facts in order before we make a decision on what we’re going to do and weigh the difference between what the mandated league punishment will be and anything we’ll want to do in addition to that.”

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, DUI arrests call for a three-game suspension, but the NFL generally refrains from a ruling until the legal process is completed.

Lock full participant in Wed. practice

Drew Lock was a full participant in Broncos practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his right throwing shoulder against Pittsburgh in Week 2.

That’s a good sign for the second-year quarterback’s hopes of returning to start Sunday against New England at Gillette Stadium. Brett Rypien will start if Lock isn’t cleared to play.

“(Lock) got a bunch of reps today, and we’ll take a look at it obviously,” Fangio said.