Bills sign 14-year veteran following Mike Edwards injury

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

A 14-year NFL veteran, Jackson split the 2023 season between the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. He played in 10 games during the campaign, totaling 51 tackles and two interceptions. He spent the vast 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 was the year the Bills selected Clemson running back CJ Spiller in the first round.

While he may not be a factor in Buffalo’s ongoing safety battle in training camp, his signing is undoubtedly a result of Mike Edwards’ injury; 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 camp and will miss the next few weeks.

Jackson brings leadership and, in theory, reliability to a safety room whose biggest problem is youth and inexperience; Hamlin is 26 with 13 career starts under his belt while the rookie has 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 defensive secondary needs to make him “talk more”; Jackson, given his decade of NFL experience, should have no problem communicating with his teammates once he establishes a rapport.

Buffalo released undrafted free agent linebacker Shayne Simon in a corresponding roster move; the defensive back originally signed with the team in June after a successful tryout.

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