Bills sign 14-year veteran safety after Mike Edwards injury

The Buffalo Bills have signed veteran safety Kareem Jackson to a one-year contract. The team announced the signing on its social media platforms Tuesday morning.

Jackson, a 14-year NFL veteran, split the 2023 season between the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. He appeared in 10 games during the campaign, recording 51 tackles and two interceptions. He spent the majority of his professional career with the Texans after being selected by the team in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, starting 193 games and recording 110 pass deflections, 22 interceptions and seven forced fumbles.

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Fun fact: 2010 is the year the Bills selected Clemson running back CJ Spiller in the first round.

While he may not ultimately play a role in Buffalo’s ongoing training camp safety battle, his arrival is undoubtedly a result of the injury to Mike Edwards; the offseason acquisition, who was competing with Damar Hamlin and rookie Cole Bishop for a starting role alongside Taylor Rapp, suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp and will miss the next few weeks.

Jackson brings leadership and, in theory, reliability to a safety room whose biggest hurdle is youth and inexperience; Hamlin is 26 years old with 13 career starts to his name, while the rookie is 21. While Bishop has drawn praise from head coach Sean McDermott and nickel back Taron Johnson for his improved communication throughout camp, veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas noted Monday that the secondary needs to let him “talk”; Jackson, given his more than a decade of NFL experience, should have no problem communicating with his teammates once he builds a rapport.

Buffalo has released undrafted linebacker Shayne Simon to another roster. The defensive back signed with the team in June after a successful tryout.

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