One swing after the final whistle Monday night has left the Los Angeles Rams facing two games without their starting left tackle.

The NFL suspended Alaric Jackson for two games without pay Tuesday for striking Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face after the Bills’ 37-34 overtime win at SoFi Stadium.

Jackson is set to miss Sunday’s home game against the Arizona Cardinals and an Oct. 25 game at the Las Vegas Raiders, though Rams coach Sean McVay said Jackson will appeal.

Alaric Jackson’s Suspension Draws Comparisons to Dre Greenlaw’s 1-Game Ban

There was little surprise that the league came down swiftly on Jackson, given the gravity of the issue.

“After the game, as players were shaking hands and exchanging jerseys, Jackson struck Buffalo linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face after a brief confrontation, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’” the NFL said while handing down the suspension.

The league cited the same principle Monday when it suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw one game for headbutting Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet.

Fans were divided over whether two games was the right punishment, and one quickly raised Greenlaw’s ban as a comparison. “Two-game suspension here but only one game for 49ers Dre Greenlaw for a helmeted head-butt on a bare-headed opponent. NFL inconsistency!”

Greenlaw’s headbutt came in the second quarter, when several Seahawks defenders confronted him after his late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold out of bounds. Jones was left bleeding after the headbutt, and Greenlaw was ejected.

However, another fan thought Jackson’s punishment was not that harsh, considering the severity of the incident. “Well deserved,” the fan wrote.

“Have to make better decisions than that,” McVay said of the incident. The suspension is the second of Jackson’s career. He was suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Meanwhile, another fan criticized the league’s handling of the Greenlaw and Jackson incidents, writing, “But Dre Greenlaw gets only 1 game for headbutting a player without a helmet? What a joke of a league.”

“Two games for throwing a punch during the postgame handshake is actually lighter than I expected from the league,” another fan remarked.

McVay confirmed that David Quessenberry will start at left tackle while Jackson is out. Jackson, 28, has started all five of the Rams’ games this season. Pro Football Network’s NFL OL Impact Grade has Jackson at 84.7 through Week 5, tied for 15th of 140 offensive linemen.

Notably, another fan turned to what the Rams lose up front. “Two games means two weeks of somebody else on the blind side.”

Rookie tackle Keagen Trost has been on injured reserve all season with a hamstring injury, though McVay said the team is hopeful Trost will be in game shape soon. One Rams fan put the stakes plainly. “Come on man, we need Stafford upright.”

The 2-3 Rams face the Cardinals on Sunday and the Raiders on Oct. 25. If the suspension holds, Jackson would be eligible to return Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.