Tag: Kareem Jackson

The Denver Broncos have parted ways with safety Kareem Jackson, who faced suspension twice this season, incurred ejections from two games, and accumulated fines totaling $89,670 for repeated unnecessary roughness violations. The decision to release Jackson was made before the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Monday, where the Broncos had the option to either add him to the 53-man roster or let him go.

Sources suggest that the Broncos are aiming to re-sign Jackson to the practice squad if he clears waivers by Tuesday. Despite starting 69 games for the team in the last five seasons, including eight this year, the 35-year-old player’s tumultuous year on the field led to his recent release.

After serving a four-game suspension, Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday under a roster exemption that concluded on Monday. However, he was not activated for the Broncos’ recent 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots. P.J. Locke has been holding the safety position for six of the past seven games, recording three sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in the last eight games he played.

Coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton, who spoke with Jackson multiple times in the past week, had indicated that the team’s decisions were not unexpected for the veteran and defensive captain—Jackson’s challenging year included two suspensions that resulted in him missing a total of six games.

The NFL handed down a four-game suspension the day after the Broncos’ Nov. 19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, citing Jackson’s hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs as the reason. This hit occurred less than two minutes into the game, and despite playing all 74 snaps on defense that day, Jackson received the suspension.

Earlier in the season, Jackson’s two-game suspension, reduced from four games, stemmed from an ejection in the Broncos’ win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 7 for a hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave. Alongside the fines, Jackson has also forfeited a significant amount of salary due to the suspensions.

Expressing a desire for clarity on how certain plays are officiated, Jackson met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his most recent suspension to discuss the suspensions and penalties. At a recent charitable event for his foundation, Jackson voiced uncertainty about his future play in the game, given the responsibility for offensive players’ protection while navigating the challenge of making plays and safeguarding himself.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson expressed his intention to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York on Wednesday to seek clarification regarding his recent suspension and to gain insights into the league’s enforcement of player safety rules.

In his first public comments since receiving his second suspension of the season, Jackson voiced his confusion about the treatment he has received, citing instances across the league where players faced no flags, fines, or suspensions for similar actions. The 14-year NFL veteran, who has faced a six-game suspension, two ejections, and a fine of $89,670 for four illegal hits this season, emphasized that his plays were regular football maneuvers without malicious intent.

Jackson, currently leading the league in fines and lost game checks, expressed his desire to understand why he seems to be the only one facing such consequences. He plans to inquire with Commissioner Goodell on strategies to avoid future penalties, as he believes he is playing within the bounds of the game and hasn’t crossed any lines.

The safety, who has already missed three games and will miss three more, resulting in a total wage loss of $837,000, received his second suspension for a hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Despite appeals, the suspension was upheld. Jackson aims to discuss with Goodell the lack of clarity from the league on how defenders should adjust their play to avoid penalties.

Acknowledging the league’s concerns about unnecessary roughness, Jackson contends that the NFL hasn’t provided clear guidance on avoiding problematic hits. He hopes the meeting with Goodell will yield some answers to help him navigate such situations in the future.

Jackson, who believes he is under increased scrutiny from the league, mentioned the ambiguity surrounding his first suspension and hopes for more transparency this time. Expressing skepticism about the potential outcome of the meeting, he feels like a “poster child” for the league’s message.

Unable to visit the team’s headquarters during his suspension, Jackson also intends to address the challenges of being cut off from team facilities with Goodell, emphasizing the apparent contradiction between the league’s advocacy for mental health and restrictive measures. He made these comments while arriving at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Denver to attend teammate Pat Surtain II’s charity event, known as the “Inspire the Dream Gala,” benefitting disadvantaged youth.

The NFL has handed down a four-game suspension without pay to Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson following his hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs during Sunday night’s game. This marks Jackson’s second suspension of the season for repeated infractions related to illegal hits targeting opponents’ heads.

The league, in its announcement on Monday afternoon, cited “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players” as the basis for the suspension. This particular hit occurred early in the first quarter, where Jackson lowered his helmet and made forcible contact with Dobbs’ facemask, resulting in a fumble and subsequent turnover that favored the Broncos.

Despite the impactful hit, officials did not flag Jackson during the game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jackson plans to appeal the suspension.

The NFL, through a letter from Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan, emphasized the serious nature of Jackson’s actions. Runyan stated that the video evidence showed Jackson had an unobstructed path to Dobbs and could have avoided the illegal contact. The league is determined to enforce rules prohibiting the use of helmets for forcible contact and stressed that such flagrant acts jeopardizing player safety will not be tolerated.

This recent suspension comes on the heels of Jackson’s previous four-game suspension in October for illegal hits that led to his ejection in a game against the Green Bay Packers. The league later reduced this suspension to two games upon appeal. Jackson’s return to the field against the Vikings marked his first game back from the earlier suspension, and the illegal hit occurred just three snaps into his comeback.

Jackson’s history of infractions includes a hit on Green Bay tight end Luke Musgrave in Week 7, resulting in an ejection and subsequent suspension. He was also previously ejected for a Week 2 hit that concussed Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas. While fined for these incidents, the NFL did not suspend Jackson.

In total, Jackson has incurred fines totaling $89,670 this season for four illegal hits, underscoring the league’s commitment to player safety and its intolerance for actions that put players at risk.