Alaric Jackson Suspension Cut to One Game

Alaric Jackson is missing one game, not two. The NFL reduced the Los Angeles Rams left tackle's suspension from two games to one after he appealed Tuesday's ruling for punching Buffalo's Bradley Chubb after Monday night's overtime loss, the league said Wednesday.

Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, heard the appeal and cut the punishment. Jackson will sit only Sunday's Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium, and Sean McVay has already said David Quessenberry will start in his place.

How the punch happened

ESPN cameras caught Jackson near midfield exchanging jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker when Chubb said something to him. Jackson walked toward Chubb and punched him in the face with his right hand.

The league cited Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, covering acts contrary to generally understood principles of sportsmanship. McVay's Tuesday reaction was blunt: "Have to make better decisions than that."

Chubb told reporters Wednesday that he started the conversation and denied talking about Jackson's mother. "I said: 'We're gonna see y'all's ass again. And when we see you again, all that chipping ain't gonna save you. That tight end and guard is not going to save you,'" Chubb recalled. "He said, 'What'd you say?' I said, 'That chip's not gonna save you. The guard's not gonna save you.' And then boom."

Chubb said he has not heard from Jackson since. "We're going to learn from it," Chubb said. "Me personally, I learned I'm either going to have my hands up or wear a helmet."

Second suspension on the resume

This is Jackson's second NFL suspension. He sat two games in 2024 for a personal conduct policy violation. Winning the appeal keeps him available after the Cardinals game instead of sitting a second week on top of that history.

What it means Sunday

The Rams host the Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 18, at SoFi Stadium. Quessenberry gets the start at left tackle for one week, then Jackson is eligible to return in Week 7. That keeps the blind-side plan intact for the rest of October instead of losing him for a second consecutive Sunday.

Los Angeles just burned overtime on Monday night and still has to protect Stafford without its starting left tackle for one more snap count. One game on the shelf is the best outcome the appeal could deliver. Now Quessenberry has to hold the edge until Jackson is cleared to come back.

Rams fans wanted Jackson in the huddle after that 37-34 gut punch. They get him back a week sooner than the original ruling allowed, and that is the whole point of winning the hearing.