MINNEAPOLIS — The NFL is suspending Denver safety Kareem Jackson for four games without pay for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players," according to a statement from the league.
The suspension comes after a hit early in Sunday's game where Jackson lowered his head and drove his helmet into Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs's facemask. The hit, which was not flagged during the game, resulted in a fumble and led to an early lead for the Broncos, who defeated the Vikings 21-20.
"On the play in question, you lowered your head and delivered a forceful blow to the shoulder and head/neck area of an opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact," said NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan in a letter to Jackson. "You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”
Jackson’s hit should have resulted in a 15-yard penalty with Minnesota maintaining possession, NBC rules analyst and former NFL official Terry McAulay suggested on the broadcast.
“He lowers his head and makes forcible contact to the opponent,” McAulay said. “You see, his head is down. This should have been a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.”
Immediately after the hit, Dobbs was tested for a concussion on the sideline. He was cleared to play and returned to the field for the Vikings' next offensive possession.
Jackson was playing in his first game since being suspended for two games following a hit on Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave in Week 7. Before Sunday's game, Jackson had been ejected twice this season and fined four times for illegal hits.
"Illegal acts that are flagrant and jeopardize the safety of players will not be tolerated," Runyan wrote. "The League will continue to stress enforcement of the rules that prohibit using your helmet to make forcible contact with your opponent.
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