Training Camp Takeaways: Bills add veteran Kareem Jackson to bolster ailing safety spot (2024)

PITTSFORD — Mike Edwards tweaked his hamstring Sunday, the Buffalo Bills called Kareem Jackson that night, flew him in from Houston Monday and signed him to a one-year contract Tuesday.

There is more than a month until the regular-season opener, but there’s little time to waste in the NFL. Jackson was in pads and practicing with the Bills Tuesday.

Edwards had been in a three-way battle with rookie Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin for Buffalo’s second starting safety spot. Edwards, brought in from Kansas City, missed all of minicamp due to shoulder surgery and was walking gingerly during practice Monday, after coach Sean McDermott labeled him week-to-week.

The 36-year-old Jackson is entering his 15th NFL season, playing his first nine seasons with the Houston Texans before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2019. He finished the season with Houston after being released by the Broncos on Christmas.

“We’re talking about having one of the best quarterbacks in the league here on this team, a bunch of pieces on offense; defensively having a bunch of guys on that side of the ball, as well,” Jackson said. “... Just coming here to a veteran, established team, where I am in my career, I want to be able to compete in the postseason and compete for a Super Bowl.”

Jackson played cornerback at Alabama and in his first nine years in the NFL, before being switched to safety upon signing with the Broncos. He made 291 tackles in his first three years in Denver and has 22 career interceptions and seven forced fumbles.

He said he was a bit surprised to hear from the Bills, but there were some rumors that he might sign with Buffalo in free agency over the years, but the Bills didn’t have a big need at safety with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Jackson said the Bills defensive scheme is a little similar to what he’s played in the past, but a chunk of his career has been spent playing in a 3-4, whereas Buffalo runs a 4-3.

“The terminology is a lot different,” Jackson said. “So, for me, it’s just just learning the terminology and things like that. But a little bit of it is similar to some of the things I’ve done in the past.”

During his first practice with the team, Jackson went through individual drills like the rest of the defensive backs, but spent most of the 11-on-11 sessions standing next to safeties coach Joe Danna. Jackson, who has started 193 of his 203 career games, said he was asking Danna some questions and he was getting questions from the coach in return.

Not only is Buffalo in the midst of a position battle — Hamlin took first-team reps Tuesday — but Bishop also left practice early. He walked to the locker room with trainers without a noticeable limp and wasn’t clutching anything in pain, but the Bills have not offered an update.

“I don’t expect anything, and, obviously, they’re not going to give me anything, as well,” Jackson said. “I want to earn everything. One of the things is just to come in and compete, learning the defense, fit where they need me to fit and just be a piece to their puzzle.”

Jackson is also looking to redeem himself after a turbulent 2023 campaign that featured four fines and two suspensions for illegal hits, leading to his release from the Broncos. He was fined four times in the first six games for illegal hits and was ejected twice in the first seven games.

Following his second ejection in Week 7, Jackson was suspended for two games — reduced from four on appeal — and in his first game back, the league deemed that he lowered the crown of his helmet on Minnesota quarterback Joshua Dobbs, a hit that was not penalized during the game, and it resulted in another four-game suspension.

According to Spotrac.com, Jackson lost more than $838,000 in game checks and $89,670 in fines, accounting for roughly 35% of his $2.667 million salary last year.

“I learned that it’s my responsibility to protect the offensive player,” Jackson said. “Still haven’t quite figured out how I’m going do that — protect myself and do my job. … At the end of the day, it’s all about me going out and competing at a high level. So whatever it takes to do that, I’m trying to do it and I’ll try my best to keep my money and stay on the field.”

Lewis goes old school for more protection

There is a slight bump under Cam Lewis’ jersey, right under his nameplate. After suffering a stinger in a Week 6 game against the New York Giants last year, Lewis wanted a little added protection so he could continue playing his style of football.

So the defensive back donned a neck roll. It’s a horseshoe-shaped piece of padding tied to his shoulder pads. It was an idea he took from Poyer, who wore one at times during his seven seasons with the Bills.

“My neck went too far one way and pinched a nerve,” Lewis said. “... It’s a physical game and I want to keep playing it as long as I can. After the game is over, longevity afterwards — I have kids, too. Just trying to protect myself.”

The neck roll — or horse collar — has come in different incarnations and goes by different names and it was once a staple in football. Its peak came in the 1970s, when just about every position except quarterbacks, wide receivers and kickers wore one.

Popularity of the neck roll started to wane in the 1980s and 1990s, and, eventually, fullbacks and linebackers were the main users of the equipment. By the 2000s, players tended to wear a bigger version, called a cowboy collar, tucked underneath the jersey, giving an aura of intimidation.

“The hard-hitters,” Lewis joked. “You got to protect yourself, man.”

Over time, though, it was found that neck rolls offered false security. On normal hits, the neck roll did its job of preventing the neck from jostling around, but not in major collisions, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

Additionally, players have reduced the amount and the size of padding to increase mobility. Shoulder pads have gotten increasingly smaller and the use of neck rolls has dwindled with them.

But Lewis was able to adjust playing with the neck roll in a few days and has found that serves the purpose intended.

“I always come down hard — under control, though,” Lewis said. “But it hasn’t given me any more recklessness than I’ve already been playing with.”

Injury updates

Receiver Chase Claypool (toe) did not practice Tuesday, nor did running back Ty Johnson, who left Monday’s practice with a leg injury after a tackle by linebacker Terrel Bernard and he wore a sleeve on his right leg.

Offensive lineman Travis Clayton also did not practice due to an undisclosed injury, while guard Mike Edwards dressed in full pads, but wore a red non-contact uniform while he is in concussion protocol.

Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones received a veteran rest day.

The Bills have an off day Wednesday and return to practice Thursday at St. John Fisher University.