NFL cuts Broncos safety Kareem Jackson's ban to 2 games following appeal

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A four-game suspension for Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was reduced to two games, the NFL announced Tuesday. Derrick Brooks, an appeals officer, reduced Jackson’s suspension for repeated violations of the league's unnecessary roughness rules following an appeal by the defensive back.

NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan announced the initial suspension on Monday, after Jackson was tossed from Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers for a hit on rookie tight end Luke Musgrave.

During the play in question, Musgrave caught a pass, but as he came down with the ball and turned around, Jackson appeared to lower his head and make helmet-to-helmet contact. 

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Kareem Jackson of the Denver Broncos runs across the field during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 12, 2023. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Musgrave's head violently snapped back when Jackson delivered the forceful blow.

"On the play in question, you delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of a defenseless receiver, when you had the time and space to avoid such contact," a statement by Runyan read. "You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to."

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Alternative replay angles showed Jackson's appearing to make direct contact with Musgrave's facemask.

The NFL noted Jackson was a repeat offender, citing Section 2, Article 9 (b)(1) of its rule book.

"It is a foul if a player forcibly hits the