The Denver Broncos have parted ways with safety Kareem Jackson, who faced suspension twice this season, incurred ejections from two games, and accumulated fines totaling $89,670 for repeated unnecessary roughness violations. The decision to release Jackson was made before the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Monday, where the Broncos had the option to either add him to the 53-man roster or let him go.
Sources suggest that the Broncos are aiming to re-sign Jackson to the practice squad if he clears waivers by Tuesday. Despite starting 69 games for the team in the last five seasons, including eight this year, the 35-year-old player’s tumultuous year on the field led to his recent release.
After serving a four-game suspension, Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday under a roster exemption that concluded on Monday. However, he was not activated for the Broncos’ recent 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots. P.J. Locke has been holding the safety position for six of the past seven games, recording three sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in the last eight games he played.
Coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton, who spoke with Jackson multiple times in the past week, had indicated that the team’s decisions were not unexpected for the veteran and defensive captain—Jackson’s challenging year included two suspensions that resulted in him missing a total of six games.
The NFL handed down a four-game suspension the day after the Broncos’ Nov. 19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, citing Jackson’s hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs as the reason. This hit occurred less than two minutes into the game, and despite playing all 74 snaps on defense that day, Jackson received the suspension.
Earlier in the season, Jackson’s two-game suspension, reduced from four games, stemmed from an ejection in the Broncos’ win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 7 for a hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave. Alongside the fines, Jackson has also forfeited a significant amount of salary due to the suspensions.
Expressing a desire for clarity on how certain plays are officiated, Jackson met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his most recent suspension to discuss the suspensions and penalties. At a recent charitable event for his foundation, Jackson voiced uncertainty about his future play in the game, given the responsibility for offensive players’ protection while navigating the challenge of making plays and safeguarding himself.
