PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills signed veteran Kareem Jackson to a one-year deal Tuesday, as they continue to tweak their safety room to replace seven-year starters Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde and adjust to injuries at the position.
Jackson, 36, participated in the team's second padded practice after receiving a call from the Bills on Sunday night and arriving Monday, but did not take part in team drills on his first day. His signing comes after veteran Mike Edwards suffered a hamstring injury.
"Got the call and just the opportunity for me to get into camp, which is something that I wanted to do, and try to get in and try to compete with the guys and try to earn a spot," Jackson said.
Coach Sean McDermott described Edwards as "week-to-week." Edwards' injury left Damar Hamlin and rookie Cole Bishop to compete for a starter role alongside likely starter Taylor Rapp, however, Bishop left Tuesday's practice early with an injury. Edwards also missed time in the spring with a shoulder injury.
Jackson had a tumultuous 2023 season that included two suspensions (totaling six games), multiple fines ($89,670) and lost wages ($838,889 in salary) for repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules. The suspensions came after Jackson, then with the Denver Broncos, was ejected from two games for hits on Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave and then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs. He received four-game suspensions for both hits, but the punishment for the hit on Musgrave was reduced to two games after an appeal.
The Broncos waived Jackson after he completed the second suspension, and he was claimed by the Houston Texans in December.
"What I learned from last year, I learned that it's my responsibility to protect the offensive player. I still haven't quite figured out how I'm gonna do that, protect myself and do my job," Jackson said. "So, at the end of the day, I'm out here playing ball, I don't think about that stuff. That stuff was last year. 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 gonna do it, and I'll try my best to keep my money and to stay on the field."
The 2010 No. 20 draft pick by the Texans has started 193 games. He has 22 interceptions, 954 tackles and 7 forced fumbles over 15 seasons.
The Bills dealt with other health issues as well during practice, with offensive lineman Alec Anderson taken by ambulance to a local hospital following the day's session after suffering heat-related illness symptoms. Per the Bills, he is expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon.
Linebacker A.J. Klein, meanwhile, announced his retirement Tuesday. His 11-year career included starting 82 games (playing in 146) including long stints with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Bills. He was most recently with the Bills and started in last season's playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.