Packers Reportedly Terminate Contract of Rookie Defender

The Green Bay Packers have parted ways with one of their 2026 draft picks, waiving rookie cornerback Domani Jackson as the team trimmed its roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players.

CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz first reported the move Sunday. All 32 NFL clubs faced a 6 p.m. ET deadline to reach the 53-man limit ahead of the regular season.

Jackson, selected in the sixth round with the 201st overall pick, arrived with notable physical tools. The former Alabama and USC standout measures roughly 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, a mark that placed him among the faster cornerbacks in his draft class.

In high school at Mater Dei in California, he tied a state record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.25 seconds.

Those traits stood out during the pre-draft process. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein highlighted them in his evaluation: “Jackson is a smooth athlete with good size and elite track speed. In totality, the play and production have failed to match the traits dating back to his days at USC (2022-2023), but his 2024 tape gives evaluators the best look at his ceiling. He can disrupt from press but can be a step slow to transition in-phase from man.

“Tampa 2 and deep-zone coverages suit him best. Scheme won’t matter as much as consistency and confidence for Jackson, though.”

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has typically given late-round selections a real shot to stick. Jackson’s release marked a relative rarity. The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman noted that under Gutekunst, the cornerback became just the third of 14 sixth-round picks released on their rookie cutdown day.

Schneidman wrote: “Just the third of 14 sixth-round picks Brian Gutekunst has released on their rookie cutdown day.”

A core muscle injury complicated Jackson’s path. He underwent surgery in the offseason and missed portions of the team’s spring workouts and early training camp sessions. Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated in early August that the rookie was still working back toward full participation.

Even after returning, Jackson struggled to separate himself during the preseason. Multiple reports placed him on the roster bubble throughout camp. He saw limited opportunities to make a lasting impression in the exhibition games.

In college, Jackson appeared in 46 games across four seasons, starting 34 of them. He finished with 124 total tackles, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions, both of which came during his 2024 season at Alabama after transferring from USC. His production dipped somewhat in 2025, when he started 10 of 15 games and recorded 39 tackles with one pass deflection.

The Packers have long emphasized drafting and developing young talent. Day 3 selections often earn roster spots or practice squad opportunities under that approach. Jackson’s combination of size and speed made him an intriguing developmental prospect, yet the injury and inconsistent preseason showings left him short of the final cut.

Teams around the league completed similar reductions Sunday. Green Bay’s secondary already featured several established or promising options, tightening the competition for the final spots.

Jackson now becomes a free agent eligible to sign with any club or potentially rejoin the Packers on their practice squad once the waiver process clears. At 23 years old, he retains the athletic profile that drew interest in the first place.

Whether another franchise will take a chance on refining those traits remains to be seen as the league shifts fully into the regular season.

The decision underscores the unforgiving nature of final roster cuts, where even drafted players with intriguing measurables can find themselves without a job if they cannot overcome early setbacks and demonstrate reliability in limited opportunities.