NFL PLAYER NEWS

NFL Notes: Colts LB Jackson banned four games

The Sports Xchange

December 06, 2016 at 6:37 pm.

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (52) tackles Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Photo Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson (52) tackles Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Photo Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The NFL made the announcement Tuesday, and the suspension begins immediately for Jackson, who is eligible to return to the active roster on Jan. 2 should the Colts qualify for the playoffs. Indianapolis (6-6) is locked in a three-way tie with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South.

Jackson collected a team-best 78 tackles, one sack and three pass deflections in 12 games this season. The 33-year-old Jackson is in his third year with Indianapolis after spending his first eight NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

— Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Mike Pennel agreed to a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the league announced.

Pennel was facing a 10-game ban for a second offense but filed a lawsuit in an Ohio federal court last week, claiming that the NFL and the NFL Players Association didn’t follow the rules listed in the collective bargaining agreement during the appeals process.

Instead, the settlement means that Pennel will miss the final four games of the regular season and will be eligible for reinstatement on Jan. 2. He could play in any postseason games if Green Bay qualifies.

— San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins announced.

Kaepernick struggled mightily in Sunday’s 26-6 loss to the Chicago Bears before getting benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert in the fourth quarter. Kaepernick was sacked five times and completed just 1-of-5 passes for 4 yards, with the passing yardage serving as the lowest of his career and his 39.6 passer rating matching his career-worst.

“(Kaepernick) is going to be the starter and we’ll go from there,” Modkins said on Tuesday. “We just decided during the game to try to see if Blaine could give us a spark. Kaep is back being the starter. It’s nothing other than that.”

— The Detroit Lions signed running back Joique Bell and cornerback Asa Jackson to the team’s active roster.

Defensive end Armonty Bryant and cornerback Quandre Diggs were placed on injured reserve while tight end Brandon Pettigrew was shuffled from the physically unable to perform list to the reserve/non-football injury list.

Bell recorded 561 carries for 2,235 yards and 22 touchdowns in four seasons with the Lions. The Wayne State product had three rushes for six yards while appearing in four games with the Chicago Bears this season before being released on Oct. 24.

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