The Rams might be without their starting left tackle Alaric Jackson for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, and it’s got nothing to do with an injury. Jackson decided to punch Bills defensive end Bradley Chubb in the face well after the final whistle had blown on their loss to the Bills. This move just absolutely screams for a suspension from the league.
Jackson’s After-Hours Punch Invites Major Trouble
Seriously, what was Alaric Jackson thinking? Monday night, after the game had officially wrapped up, Jackson went back onto the field. Chubb didn’t even have his helmet on, and Jackson had already peeled off his shoulder pads and jersey. And then, he just sucker-punched Chubb. We’re talking about an act so egregious, so far outside the lines of football, that the source article explicitly states if it happened outside the stadium, Jackson would be looking at assault charges. That’s how bad this was. The fact it happened well after the game ended means the NFL’s going to be looking at this incident with a microscope, and they should.
The Brian Branch Precedent Is Bad News For Jackson
If you want to know how this plays out, we only need to look back one year. Last season, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch got a one-game suspension for striking Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Branch hit Smith-Schuster with an open hand to the facemask, and that was “in the immediate aftermath of a Sunday night game.” NFL V.P. of football operations Jon Runyan didn’t mince words in his letter to Branch, saying exactly one year ago to the day, “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. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.” Now, think about that: Branch got a game for an open-hand strike immediately after the game. Jackson’s act was a sucker punch, with Chubb unhelmeted, and *well after* the game. If Branch got one game, it’s hard to imagine Jackson getting anything less.
The Rams are looking at a tough Sunday against the Cardinals. Losing a starting left tackle is never easy, especially when it’s for something completely avoidable and frankly, inexcusable. Jackson’s decision has put his team in a tough spot and now all eyes are on the league office to see if they hand down the inevitable punishment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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