The NFL has suspended Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson for four games after his second disqualification of the season on Sunday.

On the third snap of the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ 19-17 victory over Green Bay, Jackson brought down Packers tight end Luke Musgrave with what was judged a helmet-to-helmet hit at the end of an 18-yard reception. The former Alabama standout was penalized for unnecessary roughness and disqualified from further participation on Sunday.

Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, issued the suspension on Monday for violations of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9 (b)(1), which states: “It is a foul if a player forcibly hits the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, face mask, forearm or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him.”

In a letter to Jackson released by the NFL, Runyan wrote: “On the play in question, you delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of a defenseless receiver, when you had the time and space to avoid such contact. You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”

Jackson can appeal the suspension to Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFL Players Association to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.

Denver plays the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns in its next four games.

Jackson will not be paid during the suspension and stands to lose $558,889 if the four-game ban stands.

In Denver’s 35-33 loss to Washington on Sept. 17, Jackson was penalized and ejected for a hit on Commanders tight end Logan Thomas on a touchdown reception with 1:47 left in the first half.

Jackson was fined by the NFL four times for unnecessary roughness in the first six weeks of the season. Twice the fines stemmed from penalties called on the field. The past two fines have not been connected to penalties.

The NFL fined Jackson $14,819 in Week 1, $19,669 in Week 2, $11,473 in Week 3 and $43,709 in Week 6.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.