The Buffalo Bills had a surprise on Saturday, as they released safety Kareem Jackson while finalizing their roster to 53 players. This will be a new look for the defense heading into the season.
Kareem Jackson was released on August 27, 2024. Now 36 years old, the NFL career path of Jackson has been long and eventful since he was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 draft. His career to date has seen highs and lows and now, his release becomes one more dramatic change for the Buffalo Bills going into this new season.
In July 2024, Jackson joined the Buffalo Bills on his latest stop. It came after a chaotic 2023 season in which he played for the Denver Broncos and Texans in separate stints. Overall, he played 10 games in 2023 with 53 tackles, two interceptions and three pass deflections. The bills have elected to go in another direction.
The decision to release Jackson comes after a series of ups and downs. Initially, Jackson signed a four-year, $34 million contract with Texas. He moved to the Denver Broncos in 2019 on a three-year, $33 million deal. After Denver declined his option for 2021, he returned to the Broncos on a one-year, $5 million deal. His last year with Denver was marred by two suspensions for tackling violations that led to his midseason waiver.
Jackson’s career was distinguished by his grit and personal accommodations. Even when Denver waived him, he completed the 2023 season with the Texans very capably. But in releasing him, the Bills have moved in another direction for fresher faces and younger talent, maybe.
The release of Jackson could be the reformation needed by the Buffalo Bills’ defense. When teams begin to pare their rosters down, decisions like these are loud towards long-term plans. The Buffalo Bills are weighing options and setting their sights on the upcoming season with a calculated look toward future performances. In that perspective, releasing Kareem Jackson implies a new feature to their defense.
All in all, though the time that Kareem Jackson spent with the Buffalo Bills was short, he has had quite a remarkable journey in the NFL. This is in light of his exit from Buffalo City, and by implication, the league keeps pondering his likely next destination. Meanwhile, the Bills make their perfect case for what could be an interesting season thereafter. This move will be a point changer for the Bills to lead them to a more competitive and strong team. The coming season would also be wonderful to watch since the team used a new system of defense.
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