The oldest running back in the NFL has received a contract extension, according to the Bills, who announced today in a press release that they’ve locked up Fred Jackson beyond this season. Per Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter), the new deal will keep Jackson under contract through 2015, extending his current deal by a year.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds further salary details, reporting that Jackson’s one-year extension is worth $2.6MM, with up to $1MM in additional incentives. The longtime Bill is slated to earn a base salary of $2.45MM this season, plus a few modest bonuses, so the extra year comes in at about the same rate, with the opportunity for a raise if he continues to perform at a high level.
Despite turning 33 this past winter, Jackson had one of his best seasons in 2013, compiling 1,277 total yards from scrimmage and setting a career high with 10 total touchdowns. The veteran running back, who has spent seven years with the Bills, carried the ball 206 times and caught a career-high 47 passes.
Heading into 2014, Jackson figures to split time with C.J. Spiller and the newly-acquired Bryce Brown, with Anthony Dixon providing depth. While that may seem like a crowded backfield, no NFL club gave its running backs more total carries last season than Buffalo, so there should be plenty of touches to go around.
With an extension in hand, Jackson joins Brown and Dixon as backs under contract beyond 2014, so it’s not clear whether Spiller, who is on an expiring deal, will have a long-term future in Buffalo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.