ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Kareem Jackson will miss the Broncos next two games because of a suspension for a big hit, and his teammates don’t understand the league’s decision.

“The way I look at it, it was very clean,” fellow safety Justin Simmons said.

The league initially suspended Jackson, 35, for four games. Jackson appealed the decision, and the league changed its ruling to a two-game suspension.

“They suspended him for four games,” safety PJ Locke said. “I thought that might have been excessive. They reduced it to two. I still think that might be a lot.”

Jackson’s suspension stems from a hit in the Broncos’ win over the Packers on Sunday. A Green Bay tight end caught a ball in the flat, and Jackson hit him as he turned up field. Jackson aimed at the tight ends midsection, but the tight end stumbled as he turn, which meant Jackson hit him higher than intended. The vast majority of the blow was shoulder-to-shoulder, but the tight end likely took a glancing blow to the head as well.

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“Everybody says it was a clean hit around here,” Locke said. “If it was a bad hit, then we’d be like, ‘Bro, you got to go low.’ 

When the tight end ducked down, he put himself in front of the oncoming Jackson, who had already launched himself.

“Anyone that has played this game or even watches the tape knows that decisions are made within milliseconds,” Simmons said. “Once you commit to a play, you commit. I’m not saying the rule itself is bad, because I love the fact we’re implementing things league-wide that are going to help us after our careers stay healthy, be healthy and protect our brains.”

Simmons doesn’t believe this particular play should be penalized.

“When the hit is applied and it applied to your shoulder, I don’t think it falls in that spectrum,” Simmons said.

A similar play occurred in the game between the Cardinals and the Rams this weekend. The key difference is that you can see the contact is exclusively shoulder-to-shoulder, while Jackson likely touched the tight end’s helmet.

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“I think we see hits all around the league where we there are plays that are similar and they don’t get called,” Simmons said. “The inconsistency and the lack of clarity in those things, and even coaching afterwards. If we’re not supposed to do this, then please explain how it is supposed to be done.”

Locke saw things similarly.

“When he gets back, he’s going to be in that situation three or four times per game,” he said.

Jackson had been fined four times already this season, prior to the suspension. He was called for a hit to a defenseless receiver against the Raiders, impermissible use of the helmet against the Commanders, a low block against the Dolphins and a hit to a defenseless receiver against the Chiefs.

Those fines totaled $89,670. He won’t receive his game checks for the two games he’ll miss with the suspension, so he’ll lose out on another $279,444. The grand total is $369,114, which is about 14% of his $2.67 million salary this season.

“He’s being victimized for the past couple of weeks,” Simmons said. “I don’t necessarily agree with that.”

Locke doesn’t agree either.

“He can’t be in the building (because of the suspension),” Locke said. “I feel like they’re treating him like a criminal. I don’t like how everybody is just staining his reputation. He’s not a dirty guy by any means. He’s a captain for a reason on this team. He pulls everybody together. That’s the only thing that pisses me off about this situation.”

In the league’s memo regarding the suspension, it mentioned that Jackson had been disciplined for previous personal fouls. Those plays seem to factor into the decision.

“Kareem has to be one of the best people I know, one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Simmons said. “Anything I am as a player has been because I have gotten a chance to learn and grow with Kareem.”

Simmons doubled down.

“The whole ‘dirty player’ analogy that we’re try to stick to his name and his reputation is—excuse my language—absolute bullshit,” he said.

According to Simmons, Jackson was making a football play.

“If we’re not there to pick off the ball, we’re there to separate the receiver from the ball.”

Over his 14-year NFL career, Jackson has been one of the league’s best at separating the receiver from the ball. 

“When Kareem hits, he hits hard. It just makes everything look bad,” Locke said.

Locke thinks Jackson was stuck because of his size. At 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, Jackson was overmatched by 6-foot-6, 253-pound Luke Musgrave.

“It’s a bigger guy, so you’ve gotta come with something to you,” Locke said.

“I wouldn’t be half the player I am if it wasn’t for Kareem and the knowledge both on and off the field that he’s bestowed upon me,” Simmons said. “Never at any point in time when I’m watching the tape from him or when I’m watching tape with him does he ever come across as anything close to being a dirty player.”

It’s safe to say the Broncos are frustrated.

“There are guys who have done worse and have gotten off with less,” Simmons said. “I’m not even talking about just in football. I’m talking about from a domestic abuse standpoint. I’m talking about from a DUI standpoint.”