Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (22) reacted after being disqualified from the game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFL football match on Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Denver. Returning to practice on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, after completing his second suspension, Jackson missed the last four games for the Broncos. Throughout the season, Jackson's over-the-top tackles have led to nearly $1 million in fines and forfeited paychecks. (Photo credit: Jack Dempsey/AP)
The Denver Broncos made a significant move on Monday, releasing safety Kareem Jackson, who faced a tumultuous season with two suspensions, two ejections, and fines totaling $89,670 for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules.
Jackson’s Season: 69 Starts and Return from Suspension
The 35-year-old veteran started 69 games for the Broncos over the past five seasons, including eight this year. Jackson resumed practice on Wednesday following a four-game suspension, which was part of a roster exemption that ended on Monday.
Jackson was not activated for Sunday’s night 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots, despite his return. P.J. Locke started six of the past seven games in Jackson’s safety position. He has three sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in the last eight games he played.
Roster Decision Deadline
The Broncos faced a 4 p.m. ET deadline on Monday to either add Jackson to the 53-man roster or release him. Multiple Sources said that the team intends to bring Jackson back to the practice squad if he clears waivers on Tuesday.
Insights from Coaching Staff
Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton, who had been in contact with Jackson throughout the week, said that the decision was not a surprise to the respected veteran and defensive captain.
Suspension and Ejection Incidents
Jackson’s challenging year includes a four-game suspension handed down by the NFL the day after the Broncos’ Nov. 19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The suspension resulted from Jackson’s hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs less than two minutes into the game. Notably, Jackson received no penalty during the play and played all 74 defensive snaps that day.
This incident followed Jackson’s ejection from the Broncos’ Week 7 win over the Green Bay Packers, resulting in a reduced two-game suspension. Alongside fines, Jackson’s four-game suspension led to a forfeiture of $559,889 in salary and an additional $279,000 for the two-game suspension.
Meeting with Commissioner Goodell
Seeking clarity on officiating decisions, Jackson met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his most recent suspension to discuss the penalties.
“I was told that I’m responsible for the offensive guys’ protection,” Jackson said at a recent charitable event for his foundation. “So, I’m not really sure how I protect myself, make plays and protect them as well. And I’m not really sure what I do moving forward as far as playing this game.”
This report used information from ESPN.
