Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been suspended for four games by the NFL due to his unnecessary roughness violation resulting from his hit on Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave and is planning to appeal, according to Ian Rapoport.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for violating the rule, and he explained why the play warranted it.
“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,” Jon Runyan said. “You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”
Runyan also noted that Kareem Jackson has had multiple offenses for personal fouls this season for violating player safety-related rules. One of the instances came against the the Washington Commanders in Week 2, when he was ejected.
If upheld, Jackson will be suspended for the next four games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns before being eligible to come back. It will be worth monitoring the appeal process this week to see if the four-game ban is upheld, or if it gets shortened at all.
The Broncos moved to 2-5 with a win over the Packers. The games against the Chiefs, Bills and Browns will be tough, especially without Jackson. The Vikings game should be a toss up.
If the Broncos want to turn their season around, they will likely have to do so without Jackson for the foreseeable future.