Kareem Jackson’s suspension was reduced to two games after the NFL suspended him for four games
A four-game suspension for Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was reduced to two games by appeals officer Derrick Brooks. The NFL announced this on Tuesday.
The NFL league initially suspended Jackson for four games on Monday after he was eliminated for the second time this season in Sunday’s win against the Green Bay Packers. NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan announced the suspension along with a statement to Jackson addressing Sunday’s hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.
“On the play in question, you delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of a defenseless receiver despite having time and space to avoid such contact,” Runyan’s statement said. “You could have come into contact with your opponent” according to the rules, but you chose not to.
The play in question came in the second half of Denver’s 19-17 win when Musgrove caught a pass from Jordan Love. As Musgrave came to the ground with the ball, Jackson lowered his head and dove to bat. Musgrave’s head snapped back violently at the contact.
In a second angle, Jackson’s helmet touches Musgrave’s shoulder and appears to hit his face mask.
Jackson was previously sent off for a hit in Week 2 that rocked Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas. Jackson lowered his helmet and lunged toward Thomas at bat to block the ball.
Jackson was fined $19,669 for the attack on Thomas but was not suspended. A week earlier, he was cited for unnecessary roughness in a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Las Vegas Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers a concussion. He was not sent off for the hit but was fined $14,819.
Jackson, 35, is in his fifth season as Denver’s starting safety. In seven games this season, he has two interceptions, three passes defended and 42 tackles. Substitute Delarrin Turner-Yell could take his place in the starting lineup.
He is eligible to return to the Broncos on November 14, Week 11 of the league. The Broncos (2-5) will face the Minnesota Vikings on November 19th in Denver.
