The NFL believes that the placement of Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson on the roster exempt list knocks him out of the first six games of the regular season, even if he is traded. The NFL Players Association believes that a trade removes Jackson from the roster exempt list, cutting his unavailability in half.

A league source tells us that the matter will be resolved via a hearing held on September 16.

The issue will be resolved by Special Master Stephen Burbank, who has the initial authority to resolve certain disputes under the labor agreement. An expedited ruling is expected to be made after the hearing.

Jackson’s agents have said that an unnamed and, for now, unknown team had worked out a one-year contract with Jackson on Saturday, but that the Chargers and the unnamed team could not work out the terms of a trade. Presumably, that team would remain interested in trading for Jackson, if it’s determined that he’d miss only three games of the season, the duration of his suspension for multiple DUI guilty pleas.