First, a note on his three-game suspension -- confirmed Tuesday by the Chargers. It will be considered served after Week 3, regardless of whether Jackson has signed his tender. As an unsigned free agent, the suspension does not toll, or roll over (if Jackson were a signed player holding out, then the suspension would toll).
So, his status as a suspended player will not impact any decision about if or when to sign a tender with the Chargers. However, there are other factors in play. According to the league office, "the CBA may impose additional restrictions depending on the date that the player ultimately signs and reports to his club."
In Jackson's case, those "additional restrictions" could loom large, as the Chargers could still place him on a "roster exempt" list for three games after he signs under certain circumstances, keeping him without pay and without earning any service time toward an accrued season in that span. A player must be on a team's active, inactive, IR or PUP list for at least six regular-season games to earn an accrued season toward free agency, which is why many surmised Jackson would sign his $583,000 tender in Week 10.
According to the Roster Exemption rules in the CBA, if Jackson does not report to the Chargers by at least the day before their fourth preseason game, then, whenever he does sign, he could still be placed on the roster exempt list for an additional three games -- without pay. The Chargers, who have lowered his tender already and are locked in a bitter feud with the Pro Bowl receiver, would have to notify Jackson and the NFL Players Union of their intent to place him on roster exempt at least five days prior to the team's second preseason game.
So, if Jackson waited until the 10th week to sign, and then was placed on roster exempt, he would not have the required six regular-season games to earn an accrued season. He would have to sign be Week 7 to be certain in that case.
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