The Buffalo Bills’ 37-34 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams already had plenty of drama. Then came the postgame scene near midfield, where Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb during jersey exchanges at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
As of Tuesday, October 13, the NFL had not publicly announced any suspension or fine tied to the incident, so Jackson’s status is still unresolved. That leaves the Rams waiting on the league before they know whether their starting left tackle will be available for Sunday’s Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Video of the altercation showed Jackson heading toward Chubb after a brief verbal exchange, then throwing a punch that landed in Chubb’s jaw and knocked his hat off. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson stepped in and pulled Jackson away, preventing things from getting worse.
The reason for the exchange remains unclear. The footage captured the punch, but it did not show what was said right before it happened, and neither player’s motivation has been confirmed.
Chubb brushed off the incident afterward and framed it as part of the heat of a tight game.
“It’s just emotions, you know what I mean? Emotional game, it was a close game,” Chubb said.
He also said he did not retaliate after Jackson swung and that his teammates held him back. Chubb later confirmed he was fine and said he was focused on preparing for the Bills’ next game.
A suspension is possible, but nothing has been announced. The NFL can review the video and other circumstances before deciding whether Jackson should face further discipline. Because the punch happened after the game and not during live action, it would not be treated like a penalty from the officials on the field.
For the Rams, the stakes are obvious. Jackson is their starting left tackle, the man responsible for protecting Matthew Stafford’s blind side.
If the league does step in, Los Angeles would need to reshuffle its protection plan and find a replacement. David Quessenberry has been mentioned in early reporting as a possible option, but the Rams had not confirmed any lineup change or replacement as of October 13.
The timing matters, too. Los Angeles is coming off another close loss and has a Week 6 matchup with the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, October 18. The Bills, now 4-1, head to the Las Vegas Raiders the same day.
Buffalo finished the game with Tyler Bass drilling a 45-yard field goal in overtime to seal the 37-34 victory and leave the Rams at 2-3 through five games. What happens next with Jackson will depend on the NFL’s review or an update from the Rams, but for now his availability remains very much up in the air.
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