NFL Bans Denver Defender Jackson Four Games For Risky Hits

The NFL suspended Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson for four games on Monday for multiple infractions of league rules intended to safeguard players, including a fumble-forcing hit in a Sunday victory.

Only 82 seconds into the first quarter, Jackson slammed the top of his helmet into Minnesota quarterback Josh Dobbs’ chest and face mask, causing a fumble that led to a Denver field goal in a 21-20 home victory.

The punishment was imposed by Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, for a violation when “a player lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent.”

Jackson will miss games against Cleveland, Houston, the Los Angeles Chargers, and Detroit for the Broncos, who are 5-5 and one game off of an AFC playoff spot. He may be able to play against New England on December 24.

Runyan described his hit on Dobbs in a letter to Jackson as “a serious violation of the playing rules.”

“You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided,” Runyan added.

“Illegal acts that are flagrant and jeopardize the safety of players will not be tolerated. “On the play in question, you lowered your head and delivered a forceful blow to the shoulder and head/neck area of an opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact,’ Runyan told Jackson. “You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”

Jackson, who can appeal the ban to arbitration, has made similar decisions before.

Jackson received a four-game suspension after a 19-17 win over Green Bay last month for violating excessive roughness regulations.

However, on appeal, hearing officer Derrick Brooks lowered the ban to two games, allowing Jackson to play against the Vikings.

Jackson was also ejected during Denver’s 35-33 loss to Washington on September 17 and fined for a flagrant hit.

Jackson, 35, was selected by Houston as the 20th overall choice in the 2010 NFL Draft and spent nine seasons with the Texans before joining Denver in 2019.

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