Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson’s four-game suspension was cut in half on Tuesday following his appeal to the NFL.
The league had suspended Jackson on Monday following frequent unnecessary roughness penalties. Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, appointed by both the NFL and the NFLPA, reduced the punishment to two games.
Jackson is eligible to rejoin Denver’s roster on Nov. 14, in time for the Broncos (2-5) hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 19. He will miss Sunday’s home game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Nov. 13 contest at the Buffalo Bills. Denver has a bye in Week 9.
Jackson was ejected for the second time this season this past Sunday after hitting Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on the sideline in Denver’s 19-17 victory.
“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,” NFL 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. Thomas suffered a concussion on the play.
Jackson, 35, is in his 14th season in the NFL and his fifth with Denver after nine with the Houston Texans. He has 22 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.
Jackson has 42 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defensed in seven games this season.
–Field Level Media