Derrick Brooks, the NFL’s appeals officer, lowered Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson‘s four-game ban to two games, the league announced on Tuesday.
After Jackson was shown the red light for the second time this season during Sunday’s victory against the Green Bay Packers, the NFL league first suspended him for four games on Monday. Along with the punishment, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan addressed Jackson’s hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on Sunday.
“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,” Runyan’s statement reads. “You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”
The aforementioned play occurred during the second half of Denver’s victory, whereby Musgrave successfully caught a ball from Jordan Love. Lowering his head, Jackson dove for the hit as Musgrave came down with the ball. Musgrave’s head jerked back when it made contact.
Broncos S Kareem Jackson has been ejected for this hit
pic.twitter.com/im0Xp6CvQE— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 22, 2023
Jackson’s helmet is shown striking Musgrave’s shoulder and appearing to strike his facemask from a different perspective.
Kareem Jackson with the helmet-to-helmet gets him the ejection. #GBvsDEN pic.twitter.com/EklyeJI9VN
— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) October 22, 2023
Jackson was already ejected for a hit in Week 2 that caused Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas to suffer a concussion. In an attempt to move the ball, Jackson lowered his helmet and flung himself into Thomas on the hit.
The hit on Logan Thomas that got Kareem Jackson ejected. Definitely the right call. pic.twitter.com/NnFrqTNEha
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 17, 2023
Jackson was not suspended in spite of the $19,669 fine he received for hitting Thomas.
He was called for needless roughness in a helmet-to-helmet hit that caused Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to suffer a concussion one week earlier. He was fined $14,819 but was not removed from the game for the hit.
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, 35, has been a starting safety for Denver for five seasons. This season, in seven games, he has 42 tackles, three passes defensed, and two interceptions. Delarrin Turner-Yell, the backup, might start in his place. On November 14, the Broncos’ 11th game of the season, he is eligible to rejoin the team. On November 19, in Denver, the Broncos (2-5) will play the Minnesota Vikings.
