Kareem Jackson’s four-game suspension was upheld on Tuesday after an appeal, the NFL announced. The Denver Broncos will now be without the safety until a Week 16 showdown with the England Patriots on Dec. 24.
Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, heard Jackson’s appeal on Tuesday before making a decision on the suspension. Last month, Brooks reduced Jackson’s previous four-game suspension to a two-game suspension earlier this season, but as a repeat offender, Jackson won’t get a reduced punishment this time.
Jackson, 35, was suspended four games after launching himself headfirst into Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday Night Football in Week 12.
Before his latest offense in Minnesota, Jackson was previously fined four times for $89,670 for unnecessary roughness, ejected from two games and suspended for two games for prior offenses.
With Jackson suspended and P.J. Locke (ankle) injured, the Broncos might consider signing a free agent safety to add more depth at the position. If no safeties are signed, Denver will be left with Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner as the two options to replace Jackson while Locke is sidelined.
