Denver Safety Kareem Jackson Suspended Four Games After Hit on Vikings’ Dobbs

Kareem Jackson gets a four-game suspension after his hit on Vikings quarterback Dobbs. Photo Credit: @reemboi25 IG

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been dealt a significant blow as the NFL announced a four-game suspension without pay for repeated violations of playing rules focused on safeguarding player health and safety. The suspension stems from Jackson's actions during the recent clash with the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan specifically pointed to a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10 (a), which addresses the act of lowering the head and making forcible contact with the helmet against an opponent. In a letter to Jackson, Runyan emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing a play in which Jackson, with an unobstructed path to Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs, delivered a forceful blow to the shoulder and head/neck area. The league deemed this a serious violation that could have been avoided, emphasizing the NFL's commitment to enforcing rules against helmet-to-helmet contact.

This isn't Jackson's first encounter with disciplinary action this season. Following the Broncos' Week 7 game against the Green Bay Packers, he received a four-game suspension for unnecessary roughness violations. However, this penalty was later reduced to a two-game suspension after an appeal heard by Derrick Brooks, a hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. Jackson's history includes disqualification from a Week 2 game against Washington for a similarly flagrant hit, resulting in a fine.

The suspension sidelines Jackson until the Broncos' Week 15 game against the Detroit Lions, marking a significant absence for the team. Jackson retains the right to appeal under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with any appeal directed to NFL-NFLPA hearing officers Derrick Brooks or James Thrash. This latest development puts a spotlight on the ongoing efforts by the NFL to uphold player safety regulations and underscores the league's commitment to deterring flagrant violations that jeopardize the well-being of players on the field.