Broncos' Kareem Jackson Suspended 4 Games After 2nd Ejection of 2023 NFL Season

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected for the second time this season in Sunday's game, and now he's facing further punishment from the NFL.

The league has suspended Jackson for four games for violations of unnecessary roughness rules.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Jackson will appeal the suspension.

Jackson, whose first ejection occurred in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, was ejected early in the fourth quarter for his sideline hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.

"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. You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to," vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Jackson.

Per ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after the game that he believes Jackson's reputation played a factor in his ejection. He had already been fined for unnecessary roughness four times this season for a total of $89,670.

"I think it's difficult to make these calls sometimes. ... I think what's difficult for Kareem is he's got some priors," Payton said. "You get pulled over and you've had four or five speeding violations, you're going to spend a little bit more time on the side of the road than if you didn't have any. I wasn't real surprised [at the penalty and the ejection]."

Jackson leads the Broncos with two interceptions and ranks third on the team with 42 total tackles. If his suspension is upheld, he will miss games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.