CHURCHILL BOROUGH — NFL running back Miles Sanders faces driving under the influence and careless driving charges after police found him unconscious in a vehicle on a Pennsylvania highway in June. The charges were formally filed in August, with court records detailing the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.

Sanders performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests, according to police reports. A portable breath test administered to him returned positive for alcohol. WPXI reported that Sanders refused a chemical test following the portable breath test. Police recovered a sealed package of suspected marijuana products from the vehicle, though current court reporting does not identify a separate marijuana-possession charge stemming from the stop.

The DUI and careless-driving charges against Sanders were formally filed on August 20. TMZ reported the case on August 27 after court records detailing the arrest became public. Phil DiLucente, an attorney representing Sanders, addressed the situation in a statement to KDKA-TV. "This is a private matter that has not even reached the preliminary hearing stage and there will be no further comment," DiLucente said.

Sanders worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on July 27 after being medically cleared following knee surgery. The Las Vegas Raiders did not sign him. Sanders rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round out of Penn State in 2019.

Why It Matters

The legal proceedings involve a professional athlete with a significant career history in the National Football League. Sanders has accumulated 4,462 career rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns across 88 regular-season games, along with 1,274 career receiving yards and four touchdown catches. His most productive season came in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection.

The incident occurred in Churchill Borough, where Sanders attended Woodland Hills High School before playing college football at Penn State from 2016 to 2018. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round in 2019. He later signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, rushing for 637 yards and three touchdowns over 27 games with the franchise. His 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys ended early due to injury, and he remains an unsigned free agent as the legal process continues toward a preliminary hearing in October.

Timeline

On June 8, 2025, Sanders was arrested in Churchill Borough. On that same date, Sanders was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and careless driving. Police found him in the driver's seat of a silver Lexus that was stopped in the middle of William Penn Highway near Beulah Drive.

After exiting the vehicle, police observed that his eyes appeared glossy and his breath smelled of alcohol. Police reported making several attempts to wake Sanders, who was described in the criminal complaint as "in and out of consciousness" and "extremely lethargic." Sanders was unable or unwilling to answer questions when officers attempted to make contact. Sanders acknowledged drinking earlier in the day, according to the criminal complaint.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that Sanders rushed for 637 yards and three touchdowns over 27 games with the Carolina Panthers. Records show that he signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. Statistics reveal that Sanders totaled 147 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in four games during the 2025 season.

Background information confirms that Sanders played college football at Penn State from 2016 to 2018. Current league activity includes Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers — Carolina Panthers 9, Houston Texans 3 [In Progress]. Other ongoing games include Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles — Philadelphia Eagles 0, Cincinnati Bengals 9 [In Progress]. Another matchup features New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys — Dallas Cowboys 6, New Orleans Saints 10 [In Progress]. The Carolina Panthers is a National Football League franchise in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How Sources Differ

NFL injury reports state that Sanders appeared in four games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 before knee and ankle injuries placed him on season-ending injured reserve. NFL official statistics note that Sanders has 4,462 career rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns across 88 regular-season games. NFL official statistics note that Sanders totaled 147 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in four games during the 2025 season.