local10
Los Angeles Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson has been handed a two-game suspension without pay by the NFL for striking Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face after their teams' overtime contest on Monday night.
The league made the announcement on Tuesday, meaning Jackson will sit out Los Angeles' upcoming matchups against the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Jackson intends to appeal the league's decision. "Have to make better decisions than that," McVay said. "I spoke with him. We'll keep that in-house. I want to understand the totality of the situation. I'm not condoning by any means, but I want to gather all the information."
In Jackson's absence, David Quessenberry will step in as the Rams' starting left tackle, according to McVay. The 36-year-old veteran has seen action on just 128 offensive snaps over the past two seasons and hasn't started an NFL game since 2023.
The altercation occurred after the Bills' 37-34 overtime victory over the Rams at SoFi Stadium. Jackson struck Chubb following an exchange of words between the two players. In a press release, the NFL described Jackson's blow as an act of unsportsmanlike conduct.
According to details of the incident, Jackson was participating in a jersey swap with another Bills player when Chubb made a comment and walked away. Jackson then followed and confronted Chubb before throwing a punch that knocked Chubb's hat off. Teammates quickly intervened to separate the two, but Jackson had already landed himself in trouble once more.
This is not Jackson's first off-field issue. He was arrested on June 9 on suspicion of felony domestic violence following a confrontation with a woman at his home in the San Fernando Valley. His case was assigned to a prefiling diversion program that likely allows him to avoid criminal charges, but the NFL has yet to announce any potential discipline for that incident.
Additionally, Jackson was sued in 2025 by a woman who alleged that he recorded sexual acts with her on his phone without her consent. The incident, which only became public when the lawsuit was filed, resulted in Jackson being suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season for an undisclosed violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.
Jackson, a Canadian-American dual citizen, is one of the Rams' longest-tenured players. He earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup lineman in February 2022. The former undrafted free agent out of Iowa is in his fourth season as the Rams' starting left tackle, protecting Matthew Stafford's blind side. Los Angeles re-signed Jackson to a three-year, $57 million contract in February 2025.
Jackson's absence could be significant for the Rams, as they lack a trusted backup at the most critical position on their offensive line. Despite being the Rams' presumed backup at both tackle spots, Quessenberry took only 10 offensive snaps last year and none so far this season. When Jackson missed a game last season, the Rams opted to play relatively new signee DJ Humphries instead of Quessenberry, who has been a full-time NFL starter for just one season with the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
Rookie Keagen Trost, another potential backup tackle, has been on injured reserve all season due to a hamstring problem. McVay said the Rams are hopeful Trost will be in game shape soon.
Key Analysis
The suspension adds to Jackson's growing list of disciplinary issues, raising questions about his future with the Rams and the team's depth on the offensive line. With Quessenberry's limited recent playing time, the Rams may face challenges protecting Stafford in the coming weeks.
Originally reported by local10.