A punch thrown in the moments after Monday night’s game is now costing the Los Angeles Rams one of their starting linemen.
The NFL suspended Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson for two games without pay on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, after he punched Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Bradley Chubb following the Bills’ 37 to 34 overtime win in Los Angeles.
Why was Alaric Jackson suspended?
The league said Jackson violated its rule against unsportsmanlike conduct, which covers any act contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship. Players can be fined or suspended under the rule even when an act happens after the final whistle.
Television cameras captured the incident near midfield. Jackson was swapping jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker when Chubb appeared to say something to him. Jackson, who had already removed his shoulder pads and jersey, walked over and punched Chubb in the face with his right hand.
Rams tight end Colby Parkinson pulled Jackson away. Chubb, still in full uniform, did not swing back.
Will Alaric Jackson appeal?
He is expected to. Jackson can appeal under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, and the Rams head coach said it is his understanding that Jackson will do so. An appeal hearing could reduce the penalty or leave it unchanged, and the timing of a decision could determine whether he plays Sunday.
If the suspension stands, Alaric Jackson will miss the Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals and the Week 7 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Veteran tackle David Quessenberry would start in his place. Quessenberry, a veteran, has filled in on the offensive line during his career and would take over the important job of protecting the quarterback’s blind side.
How did the Rams respond?
The head coach did not defend the punch. He said Jackson has to make better decisions and stressed that he is not condoning what happened.
He said he spoke with Jackson after watching the video Tuesday morning but wanted to gather all the information before commenting on specifics. He also said he does not know what Chubb said before the punch.
He noted that losing a player of Alaric Jackson’s caliber hurts the team and said Jackson needs to make more consistent choices that keep him available and reflect the team’s values.
What did Bradley Chubb say?
Chubb brushed off the incident after the game. He called it an emotional, close game and said tempers flared. He also said the Bills had flushed the incident and moved on.
He explained that he let Jackson swing because the second player to react is usually the one who gets caught, and that his teammates held him back. He declined to say who threw the punch, noting that cameras captured everything, and said he was focused on next week.
Has Alaric Jackson been suspended before?
Yes. This is the second NFL suspension for Alaric Jackson. He sat out two games in 2024 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
That history adds to the pressure on him to show the kind of consistency his coach demanded. Jackson, who went undrafted out of Iowa in 2021, worked his way into the starting lineup and signed a new contract with the Rams in 2025.
The suspension adds to a rough week for Los Angeles. The Rams also moved to release kicker Harrison Mevis after special teams miscues in the overtime loss. The loss came in a game decided by three points, and special teams struggles loomed large.
For now, the Rams will prepare to face Arizona with or without Alaric Jackson, depending on the outcome of his appeal.
