Broncos safety Kareem Jackson’s 4-game suspension upheld

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson’s four-game suspension for his hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs was upheld Tuesday.

Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, appointed jointly by the NFL and NFL Players Association, refused to reduce the suspension after Jackson appealed the initial decision.

Jackson will miss games against the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions. He will be eligible to return in Week 16, a Christmas Eve home game against the New England Patriots.

Earlier this season, Jackson had a four-game suspension reduced to two games by Brooks on appeal. The Broncos’ game Sunday night against the Vikings was Jackson’s first back from suspension.

Less than two minutes into Sunday’s game, Jackson lowered his helmet and hit Dobbs, who was running back after Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson took the snap from under center and threw the ball in Dobbs.

Dobbs, who ended up fumbling, was later checked for concussion but was cleared to re-enter the game.

A 14-year veteran in his fifth season with the Broncos, Jackson was informed of his suspension Monday morning by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. Runyan said in the letter: “During the play in question, you lowered your head and delivered a powerful blow to the shoulder and head/neck of an opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact. You could have made contact with your opponent legally, but you chose not to do so.

With the four-game suspension continuing, Jackson will lose $559,889 in salary. He has already been fined four times this season for unnecessary roughness totaling $89,670 and was ejected from two games.

Jackson said last week he spoke to league officials to get “clarity” on the tackles, including the plays he was penalized for. After his earlier suspension, Jackson’s teammates were quick to defend him, particularly safety Justin Simmons, who took exception to the league’s letter to Jackson last month informing him of the suspension as well as narrative that Jackson is a dirty player based on the fines and expulsions.

Information from ESPN’s Jeff Legwold was included in this report.