Texans reunite with former first-round pick

After his Broncos tenure came to an unceremonious end, Kareem Jackson will return to where his career began. The veteran safety was claimed off waivers Tuesday, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. 

Jackson’s roster exemption for his second suspension of the 2023 season expired on Monday. After Denver elected not to activate him in time for the team’s Week 16 game, though, questions were raised about his future with the franchise. The Broncos waived Jackson with the intention of retaining him via the practice squad.

That will no longer be the case, as he will now head to Houston for the first time since his Texans tenure came to an end in 2018. Jackson was once a teammate of head coach DeMeco Ryans, and he spent nine years with the franchise after arriving in the NFL as a first-round pick. He could have a path to immediate playing time, given the corresponding move made alongside his addition.

The Texans placed fellow safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve due to a quad injury, per Wilson. After nine years in San Francisco, Ward followed Ryans to Houston this offseason. He has served as a full-time starter in his first Texans campaign, collecting 50 tackles and one interception while providing experience to a transitioning team. Jackson will look to do the same as Houston chases a postseason berth over the final two weeks of the season.

“I’m thrilled to be back with the Texans,” the 35-year-old said, via Wilson. “It’s all coming full circle, having spent a lot of time in Houston. I’m really excited and happy for DeMeco and all the success he’s having. I’m here to be a piece of the puzzle and help them win these last two games and get to the playoffs.”

The Broncos are still alive for a wild-card berth, but their playoff hopes took a major blow with Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Jackson officially leaving the organization confirms that P.J. Locke, who filled in as a starter during his suspensions, will remain in a first-team role to close out the season. Houston is one of three teams still eligible to win the AFC South, but failing that a wild-card spot is still within reach. If Jackson does see time in the 2023 postseason, it will be with his original NFL team