The Los Angeles Rams will have to shuffle their offensive line for the next few weeks after the NFL officially handed down a two game suspension to left tackle Alaric Jackson. The disciplinary action stems from a heated post game confrontation following the team’s narrow thirty seven to thirty four overtime defeat against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Television cameras captured the moment things turned violent at midfield, where Jackson was initially seen exchanging jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker in a show of sportsmanship. However, the mood shifted quickly when linebacker Bradley Chubb approached and reportedly said something that provoked Jackson. In an instant, Jackson landed a right hook directly to Chubb’s face before teammate Colby Parkinson stepped in to pull him away from the fray.
While Chubb later dismissed the incident as nothing more than high emotions common in professional football, the league office took a firmer stance on the physical altercation. As it stands, Jackson is slated to miss upcoming matchups against both the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving a significant void on the blind side for Sean McVay’s offense.
Jackson does have the option to appeal the ruling, which would put his fate in the hands of one of several designated officials including Ron Rivera or Derrick Brooks. If he cannot overturn the decision, it marks a rare absence for a player who has been remarkably durable lately, having started every single game so far this season and missing only once throughout last year.
