Kareem

Jackson

Jackson began the 2023 season in Denver but didn’t make it through the end of the season. He was ejected from the team’s Week 2 game against the Commanders due to an illegal hit. Jackson committed the same penalty in Week 7 and was suspended for four games, though it was later reduced to two. Jackson inexplicably returned to the field only to commit the exact same penalty once more. The league gave him the four-game suspension this time around. Seeing him as not worth the trouble, Denver cut Jackson after he served his second suspension. The Texans claimed him off waivers but kept him in a reserve role to close out the year. Jackson will be a depth option for a depleted Buffalo secondary, but his history of violent hits has him on thin ice with the league.

Jackson was waived by the Broncos with the intention of re-signing him to their practice squad. However, the Texans jumped in through waivers to claim Jackson as safety help with Jimmie Ward going on injured reserve. Jackson spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Texans and returns with hopes of helping them in a playoff push.

Jackson has been suspended twice this season for illegal hits and missed significant time for the Broncos. The team has made the decision to waive him Christmas Day with the expectation that he re-signs with the practice squad if he clears waivers. The Broncos have played without Jackson for chunks of the season and have decided to move on from him as a starter while keeping him for depth.

Jackson was suspended for four games after a hit on Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs in the Broncos’ Week 11 victory. Jackson wasn’t flagged on the hit, but it was put under review by the league, who swiftly suspended him. His first suspension was also a result of his illegal hits, serving a reduced two games after initially getting sentenced to four. Hearing office Derrick Brooks upheld the four games this time, and Jackson will serve his second suspension of the season.

The play in question occurred with 13:38 remaining in the fourth quarter on a hit on Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs, during which the Denver safety lowered his helmet to initiate forcible contact with the opposing quarterback. He was previously suspended four games but had the suspension reduced to two games, but heads immediately back to the suspended list after his first game back on the field. Expect another appeal as occurred on his first suspension.

Fresh off serving a two-game suspension following multiple illegal hits earlier in the season, Jackson is once again in the league’s crosshairs after lowering his head to place a hit on Dobbs in the first quarter of Sunday’s win over the Vikings. Jackson wasn’t flagged for the hit during the game, but Sunday Night Football rules analyst, Terry McAulay, said after the play that it should have warranted a flag for a 15-yard penalty. Jackson’s play has been reckless all season long, and initially earned him a four-game suspension before the league reduced it to two games. If they take exception to Sunday night’s hit, it’s possible another suspension could be coming down the line for the veteran safety.

Jackson was initially suspended four games for violating the league’s unnecessary roughness rules. Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who was appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, issued the reduction in Jackson’s suspension after he appealed. Jackson will be eligible to return Tuesday, November 14th, in time for the Broncos’ Week 10 game against the Vikings.

Jackson’s head-hunting ways have finally caught up to him, as the oft-fined/oft-ejected safety is now set to miss the Broncos’ next four games. Jackson is already planning to appeal the suspension, but the multiple clips of him destroying the head/neck area of defenseless receivers and tight ends won’t do him many favors. Jackson once again went high on a defenseless player in Week 7, and was ejected for a big hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave. We’ll see if he wins his appeal, but for now, Jackson is eligible to return in Week 12 when the Broncos take on the Browns.

Jackson avoided suspension for his second egregious hit in as many weeks, but will be in line for a fine once the league finishes reviewing the plays from the week. While he avoided suspension, Jackson is certain to be on the radar of teams and officials in the coming weeks after concussing two players to start the season.

Jackson will almost certainly be fined by the league, just as he was for his illegal hit on Jakobi Meyers in Week 1 which left Meyers concussed and out for Week 2. Jackson delivered a brutal hit to Thomas’ head in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, and was ejected for the hit, but it sounds like that won’t keep him out for Week 3 against the Dolphins.