In a stunning turn of events, the NFL announced multiple suspensions on Friday for violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. Among those hit with punishments were Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson, Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones, and free agent cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Chris Claybrooks.
The hammer came down hard on these players, with Alaric Jackson receiving a two-game suspension, Zay Jones getting a five-game ban, J.C. Jackson facing a one-game suspension, and Chris Claybrooks serving an eight-game suspension. However, it’s worth noting that Claybrooks’ suspension time was considered served while he was on the Commissioner’s Exempt List last season.
Jones, who was arrested last November on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery (which were later dropped in March), was still handed a five-game suspension by the league following its own investigation. The 29-year-old wide receiver had spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing with the Arizona Cardinals in May. He will be eligible to return to the field in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.
As for Alaric Jackson, the offensive lineman has been a key part of the Los Angeles Rams since signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021. After missing time due to blood clots, Jackson bounced back and had a solid 2022 season. He was set to be the starting left tackle for the Rams, but now Joe Noteboom will likely take over in his absence. Jackson, who signed a one-year restricted free agent tender worth $4.89 million in the offseason, will miss the first two games of the season before returning in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers.
On the other hand, J.C. Jackson split his 2023 season between the Chargers and the Patriots before being traded back to New England, where he started his career in 2018. Chris Claybrooks, who was on the Jaguars last season but was sidelined due to his placement on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, found himself in legal trouble with arrests in Tennessee and Florida for domestic-related incidents.
This wave of suspensions serves as a stark reminder that the NFL takes violations of its personal conduct policy very seriously. The affected players will now have to face the consequences and work to earn back the trust of their teams and fans as they serve their time away from the field.