Kareem Jackson is returning to his roots after the Houston Texans demanded tough safety cuts from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. The Broncos (7-8) were hoping for waivers so they could sign their locker room and playmaker to the practice squad. That way, they didn’t have to touch another player on the waiver wire and risk losing him. Additionally, they could add Jackson to the active roster.
Jackson played nine seasons at cornerback in Houston before joining the Broncos in free agency in 2019. A converted cornerback, Jackson’s 5-foot-10, 183-pound frame makes him undersized for an NFL safety, which he makes up for with a gritty style that often produces hits that were once celebrated but are now frowned upon.
He ran into trouble in 2023 when he repeatedly flouted the league and rules designed to protect players with a series of illegal hits early in the season, three of which put opposing batters in the concussion protocol. The results included multiple fines, two ejections and two suspensions for a total of six games. Heand forfeited game checks totaling $839,000 and received a total of $89,670 in fines, although the league overturned its largest fine of $43,709 for a hit on Chiefs linebacker Isiah Pacheco in October. Jackson signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal late in free agency last spring and lost the starting job to Caden Sterns in training camp.
But he resumed his starting role when Sterns suffered a season-ending leg injury with the Broncosand#039; the opener After missing seven of Denverand#039’s last eight games, he won’t dislodge safety PJ Locke from the starting spot, as he did when he returned from his first suspension, a two-game stretch. His first hit since returning to action led to his second four-game suspension, which was upheld on appeal by the NFL. Jackson returned to practice last week, but the Broncos placed him on the exception list. He missed the Broncosand#039; Sunday night’s game against New England and was waived on Christmas Day, returned to the Broncos after being cleared off waivers. Instead, the Texans took him and placed safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve.
Although he has played in just one game since Oct. 22, Jackson told The Associated Press last week that his cardiovascular health was excellent after a tough workout while away from team headquarters and said he was back on track. the field how to get back on the bike. andquot;You don’t forget,andquot; Jackson said. andquot;I mean you haven’t ridden a bike in a while? I’m sure you could go in there today and drive it from there to the stadium.” Jackson was offered a public hearing with commissioner Roger Goodell during his second suspension when he asked for advice on how to stop violating league rules designed to keep players safe.
He said Goodell said his job is to keep opponents safe, which he said is nearly impossible for safeties trying to stay healthy and play as the last line of defense.
