Rams LT Alaric Jackson has suspension cut from two games to one

Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson had his two-game suspension cut to one game on Wednesday after an appeal hearing, Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport both reported, and ESPN confirmed the ruling.

What is confirmed

Hearing officer Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, reduced the penalty. Jackson will miss only Sunday's Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals and is due back for the Rams' Oct. 25 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Mike Garafolo reported.

The league had suspended Jackson on Tuesday for punching Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after Monday night's overtime loss in Los Angeles. The NFL cited Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, covering acts contrary to sportsmanship. Jackson appealed the original two-game ban.

Coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that David Quessenberry will start at left tackle in Jackson's place, ESPN reported.

How the altercation played out

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

On Wednesday, Chubb told reporters he started the conversation and denied trash-talking Jackson's mother. Chubb said he warned Jackson that chip blocking would not save him the next time the teams meet. Jackson asked what he said, Chubb repeated it, and the punch followed.

This is Jackson's second NFL suspension. He sat out two games in 2024 for a personal conduct policy violation.

What RSO owners should do now

In IDP and tackle-eligible formats, Jackson is a one-week absence rather than two. Keep him rostered if you held him through the original ban, and plan around Quessenberry starting Sunday against Arizona. Cardinals edge rushers get a softer left-tackle matchup for one week.

Offensive line streaming is thin most weeks, so Quessenberry is only a short-term fill if your league scores OL. The bigger shift is the calendar: Jackson lines up to return for Week 7 against Las Vegas instead of sitting that game too.

What to watch next

Confirm Quessenberry is listed as the starter on the Rams' first injury and depth chart updates of the week. Watch whether the Rams shuffle other line spots around the left tackle hole for Sunday, and whether Jackson is formally reinstated on the Oct. 25 calendar after the Cardinals game.