The Rams may not have left tackle Alaric Jackson for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. And not because of an injury.
Jackson’s decision to punch Bills defensive end Bradley Chubb in the face well after the game ended invites a suspension.
Last year, the NFL imposed a one-game suspension on Lions safety Brian Branch for striking Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with an open hand to the facemask in the immediate aftermath of a Sunday night game.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” NFL V.P. of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Branch, exactly one year ago to the day. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
On Monday night, Jackson sucker punched Chubb well after the game ended; Chubb’s helmet was off, and Jackson had returned to the field after removing his shoulder pads and jersey.
If it had happened outside the stadium, Jackson would have been arrested and charged with assault. (He still could be, technically.) The fact that it happened well after the Monday night game ended could prompt scrutiny under the Personal Conduct Policy, which prohibits (among other things) "[v]iolent or threatening behavior toward another employee or a third party in any workplace setting.”
If the NFL proceeds under the Personal Conduct Policy, Jackson’s prior violation could prompt something more than a one-game suspension.
Either way, discipline is surely coming for Jackson. Given the precedent set by the Brian Branch case, the punishment should be a suspension of at least one game.