Jacksonville Jaguars' Leonard Fournette loses appeal on suspension

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette lost the appeal of his one-game suspension and will sit out this weekend's game against the Indianapolis Colts, the league announced on Wednesday.

Fournette was suspended without pay following his ejection for fighting with Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson on Sunday.

The league said that Fournette violated its unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules during the Jaguars' 24-21 setback to the Bills.

Fournette's appeal was heard Tuesday by appeals officer James Thrash, a former NFL player jointly appointed by the league and the players' union. The 23-year-old Fournette will miss practices and team meetings this week as well as the game, but is eligible to return to the team on Dec. 3.

Sunday's contest will mark the seventh game that Fournette has missed this season, with the first six stemming from a nagging hamstring injury.

Fournette has 90 carries for 314 yards and four touchdowns in five games this season.

"Sportsmanship is the cornerstone of the game and the league will not tolerate game-related misconduct that conveys a lack of respect for the game itself and those involved in it," NFL vice president Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Fournette.

"Video of the incident shows that you were not a participant in the play and that you ran from your sideline to the opposite side of the field to insert yourself as an active participant in a fight. Once you entered the fight area, you struck a member of the opposing team. Your actions adversely reflected on the NFL and have no place in the game."

Fournette said he got angry when he saw Lawson shove teammate Carlos Hyde, and that's when he threw a punch.

"Your brothers are getting attacked, they're fighting out there, you're going to have to go there and also protect your own, but at the same time, professional now, I mean, you can't have that," Fournette told reporters after the loss. "I apologize to all those kids out there who look up to me and all of our fans. The biggest thing is this whole loss, totally on me. I take full responsibility."

Hyde and fellow running back T.J. Yeldon are expected to carry the load versus the Colts with Fournette serving the suspension.