Broncos S Kareem Jackson suspended four games for illegal hits

 

[October 24, 2023]  The NFL suspended Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson on Monday for repeated unnecessary roughness penalties.

Jackson is appealing the discipline, according to multiple reports.

Jackson was ejected for the second time this season on Sunday after hitting Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on the sideline.

"On the play in question, you delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of a defenseless receiver, when you had the time and space to avoid such contact," vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Jackson. "You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to."

Jackson has already been fined four times this season, forfeiting a total of $89,670.

His first ejection came in Week 2 after he laid a massive hit on Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas' head. Thomas suffered a concussion on the play.

If Jackson's appeal is denied, the four games he will miss will come against the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. He would be allowed to return to the active roster on Nov. 27.

Broncos coach Sean Payton understood the reason for the discipline while insisting Jackson wants to play within the rules.

"I've sat on this committee -- the (NFL) Competition Committee -- for a number of years," Payton said. "We're constantly trying to work with and educate the players. There are times when pad levels drop. I know Kareem, I know his heart and I know the way he's played. I think it's an easy narrative to say, ‘Well he's just an old-timer playing in a new-timer's game.' When you see the play, his head is removed from the forceable contact. Defenseless is a little bit more of an issue relative to the position the receiver's in.

"I just know where he's at as a player. We'll keep working on that. I know he'll keep working on it. He's someone that's smart and really wants to do the right thing. It's one of the toughest parts of our game for the officials, for the players, for all of us involved of getting that to where it's clear and easy. Sometimes, it's just not."

Jackson, 35, is playing his 14th season in the NFL and his fifth with Denver after nine years with the Houston Texans. He has 22 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.

Jackson has 42 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups this season.

--Field Level Media

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