The NFL has suspended Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson four games without pay for violations of unnecessary roughness rules, the league announced on Monday.
The suspension comes after Jackson was disqualified from Sunday’s win over Green Bay after delivering a hit to Packers tight end Luke Musgrave, who was deemed a defenseless receiver. Jackson was flagged for a personal foul penalty in addition to his disqualification from the game.
“In the specific play being discussed, you struck a defenseless receiver forcefully in the head/neck area when you had sufficient time and space to avoid this contact,” wrote Jon Runyan, NFL Vice President of Football Operations, in a letter to Jackson. “You had the opportunity to engage with your opponent within the rules, but you chose otherwise.”
Runyan, the issuer of the suspension, highlighted that Jackson has had numerous personal foul offenses in the 2023 season for breaching player safety rules. This includes a severe hit during a Week 2 game against Washington, which also led to his disqualification.
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, insiders at NFL Network, report that Jackson is disputing the suspension, according to sources. Pelissero also reported that before Sunday’s hit, Jackson had received four fines this season for unlawful hits.
Jackson’s four-game suspension is the longest for violating a player-safety rule since Vontaze Burfict (12 games) and Myles Garrett (six games) in 2019, according to NFL Research. Burfict was suspended for targeting and Garrett for unsportsmanlike conduct after swinging a helmet at Mason Rudolph.
Jackson can return to the Broncos’ active roster from his suspension following the team’s Week 12 game against the Browns, on Monday, Nov. 27.
