Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson has been suspended for two games without pay after punching Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb following Monday night’s NFL game. The incident occurred October 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, shortly after Buffalo defeated Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime.
The NFL announced the suspension Tuesday, October 13, citing unsportsmanlike conduct. Jackson will miss upcoming games against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders unless he successfully appeals the punishment.
Television cameras captured the confrontation as players from both teams gathered near midfield following the game. Jackson was exchanging jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker when Chubb appeared to make a comment toward him.
Jackson then approached Chubb, who raised a finger toward Jackson's face during their exchange. The Rams offensive lineman responded by throwing a right-handed punch that struck Chubb in the face and knocked off his cap.
Players from both teams quickly intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson pulled Jackson away while Buffalo players helped separate Chubb from the altercation.
The incident occurred while ESPN was still conducting its postgame coverage. Video of the exchange circulated widely after the broadcast, drawing attention to the conduct of both players.
The NFL determined that Jackson's actions violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of its rulebook. The provision prohibits conduct that violates the generally accepted principles of sportsmanship.
The league's disciplinary statement specifically identified Jackson's decision to strike Chubb after their brief confrontation. The punishment applies to two regular-season games and includes the loss of Jackson's salary for those contests.
Chubb spoke about the incident afterward and described the confrontation as a product of emotions following a closely contested game. He indicated that he chose not to retaliate after Jackson threw the punch.
Speaking to the California Post, Chubb acknowledged the tension surrounding the game and explained why he allowed teammates to intervene rather than continue the confrontation.
"It's just emotions," Chubb said. "Emotional game. It was a close game."
Chubb also suggested that players who retaliate are sometimes the ones penalized for an altercation. He said his teammates held him back and that he allowed the incident to end without further fighting.
The Bills linebacker indicated that he was not injured during the exchange. His remarks suggested that he was more interested in moving forward than continuing the dispute with Jackson.
The confrontation followed a difficult loss for the Rams, who entered the game hoping to improve their early-season record. Buffalo ultimately secured a 37-34 overtime victory, leaving Los Angeles with a 2-3 record.
The defeat was particularly frustrating for the Rams because special teams problems played a role in the outcome. Los Angeles missed an opportunity to win when kicker Harrison Mevis failed to convert a potential game-winning field goal.
Buffalo took advantage and finished the contest with the winning field goal. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams faced questions about their execution and consistency.
Jackson's suspension creates another challenge for the Rams as they prepare for their next two games. The 28-year-old offensive lineman has been a regular starter and plays an important role in protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Jackson has started all five games for Los Angeles this season. Since joining the Rams as an undrafted free agent from Iowa in 2021, he has developed into one of the team's established offensive linemen.
According to the NFL, Jackson has started 56 of the 62 games in which he has appeared during his career. His experience and familiarity with the Rams' offensive system make his expected absence particularly significant.
Left tackle is one of the most demanding positions on the offensive line because the player frequently protects the quarterback from opposing pass rushers. The Rams will need to adjust their blocking assignments and personnel while Jackson is unavailable.
Veteran offensive lineman David Quessenberry is among the players who could take on additional responsibilities during Jackson's suspension. The team must also consider how changes at left tackle could affect pass protection and its running game.
This is Jackson's second NFL suspension. In August 2024, the league suspended him for two games after determining that he violated its personal conduct policy.
That earlier discipline followed allegations in a civil lawsuit that Jackson recorded intimate activity without the other person's consent. The lawsuit was later dismissed, although the league imposed its own punishment under the personal conduct policy.
Jackson also faced a separate legal matter earlier this year. He was arrested in June 2026 on suspicion of felony domestic violence following an incident in the Los Angeles area.
Prosecutors did not file criminal charges at that time, and the matter was assigned to a prefiling diversion program. According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, the arrangement included requirements involving probation and anger management.
The NFL has not announced whether Jackson will face separate discipline related to that arrest. The October suspension concerns the punch against Chubb and is unrelated to the earlier allegations.
The latest disciplinary action follows other recent NFL incidents involving players striking opponents. The league has previously issued suspensions for physical confrontations that continued beyond normal game action.
In October 2025, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch received a one-game suspension after striking Kansas City Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster following a game. That punishment established a recent example of the league disciplining players for postgame conduct.
Jackson's two-game penalty is more severe than the suspension imposed on Branch. The NFL has not publicly provided a detailed explanation comparing the two cases, beyond identifying Jackson's violation of its sportsmanship rule.
For the Rams, the immediate concern is maintaining offensive stability during a difficult stretch of the season. Jackson is scheduled to miss the home game against Arizona and the road matchup with Las Vegas.
If the suspension stands, Jackson will be eligible to return after the Rams' October 25 game against the Raiders. A successful appeal could reduce the length of the punishment or change when he becomes available.
The Rams have already experienced a disappointing start to the 2026 season, and losing a starting offensive tackle adds pressure to the team's preparations. Coaches must determine how to protect Stafford while continuing to develop consistency on offense.
For Buffalo, the incident did not change the outcome of its overtime victory. Chubb avoided a prolonged confrontation, and his team departed Los Angeles with its fourth win of the season.
Jackson's next step is deciding whether to challenge the two-game suspension through the league's appeals process. Until that process is resolved, the Rams must prepare for the possibility of playing their next two games without their starting left tackle.