Rams Catch a Break: Alaric Jackson's Suspension Slashed in Half

The NFL's wheel of discipline is usually a mystery, but Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson just caught a massive break. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, hearing officer Derrick Brooks stepped in and slashed Jackson's two-game suspension down to a single game.

Getting a 50 percent discount on a suspension is the kind of legal victory you usually only see on daytime television. For the Rams, it means getting a crucial piece of their offensive front back on the field exactly when they need him most.

"Adam Schefter reported the suspension reduction by hearing officer Derrick Brooks."

Los Angeles is coming off a brutal 37-34 shootout loss to the Buffalo Bills. When your offense is putting up 34 points and you still walk away with an L, the last thing you want is a compromised offensive line trying to keep the ship afloat the following week.

Jackson is a vital part of keeping Matthew Stafford upright. The veteran quarterback has taken enough hits in his career to fill a medical textbook, so any news that puts a starting-caliber lineman back in the rotation is basically a holiday in the Rams' facility.

With the suspension halved, Jackson will be back in the mix immediately. The Rams need all the protection they can get to bounce back from that Buffalo heartbreaker, and getting their big man back is the first step in the right direction.