The NFL got something right.
Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was suspended on Monday for four games after he was ejected in Week 7 following a brutal hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.
NFL suspended Broncos’ safety Kareem Jackson four games. This hit was involved. pic.twitter.com/ZXnU8jyfSI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2023
The hit was only the most recent run-in for Jackson, who's earned the infamous label as the dirtiest player in the league with his incessant cheap shots.
In the NFL's letter to Jackson announcing his suspension, it said he violated a league rule which states:
"It is a foul if a player forcibly hits the defenseless player's head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, or shoulder, even if the contact is lower than the player's neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him."
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote in the NFL's letter to Jackson that he "had the time and space to avoid such contact. You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to."
Jackson was also ejected in Week 2 after a hit on Commanders tight end Logan Thomas after he scored a touchdown.
Source: NFL will be reviewing and discussing Monday whether Broncos’ safety Kareem Jackson should be disciplined for this hit on Commanders’ TE Logan Thomas one week after Jackson was fined $14,189 for his hit on Jakobi Meyers that left the Raiders’ WR with a concussion. pic.twitter.com/XOJUrZUFXZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2023
As Schefter noted, he was also fined in Week 1 following an unnecessary hit on Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers that gave him a concussion.
Jakobi Meyers injury Kareem Jackson Helmet to Helmet penalty Jakobi Meyers injured Raiders vs Broncos pic.twitter.com/PpGMhD3WQf
— Trebornotslar (@Trebornotslar) September 10, 2023
Jackson's career is following a similar arc to former Bengals and Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who last played in the NFL in 2019 when he was suspended for the final 12 games of the season for repeatedly violating the league's player safety rules.
Jackson will likely be under a microscope when he returns. If he can't show better judgment in the future, the NFL will have no choice but to bring the hammer down harder.
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