Kareem Jackson

Broncos Add Camren Williams To Front Office; Kareem Jackson In Play For Staff Role

This offseason has produced a few notable exits from the Broncos’ staff. In addition to the team losing two coaches (John Morton, Declan Doyle) to NFC North OC positions, it has seen some departures — most notably assistant GM Darren Mougey‘s — key changes in the front office.

In addition to Mougey — the new Jets GM — the Raiders poached Brian Stark and Mark Thewes from the Broncos’ executive ranks (Stark is Las Vegas’ new assistant GM). David Shaw, who had worked in a front office role in 2024, is back on the sideline as a Lions assistant as well. As the Broncos make a post-draft attempt to restock their staff, they added a Patriots exec as one of their replacements.

Camren Williams is joining the Broncos, according to MassLive.com’s Mark Daniels. He will serve as the team’s co-director of player personnel, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This represents a high-ranking move for Denver, as Williams had previously served as New England’s college scouting director. Williams had been with the Patriots since 2016.

The Pats had installed Williams — an Easton, Mass., native — as their college scouting director in 2022, after Dave Ziegler had joined Nick Caserio among the GM ranks. Working alongside the likes of Caserio, Ziegler, Eliot Wolf and Monti Ossenfort under Bill Belichick, Williams helped the Pats move into their post-Belichick era last year.

Playing a key role in the Patriots’ Drake Maye selection, Williams also had ties to Mike Vrabel. The latter recruited Williams — a former Ohio State linebacker — when he was on the Buckeyes’ staff. Camren Williams’ father, Brent, also played seven seasons for the Pats in the 1980s and ’90s. After going through a draft with Vrabel, Williams took part in a recent Broncos interview (per Schefter) — one that will lead to a separation early in Vrabel’s return to Foxborough. Williams will join Reed Burkhardt as staffers with player personnel director titles in Denver.

Beyond Williams, the Broncos’ rookie minicamp featured an interesting presence working alongside GM George Paton. Kareem Jackson was operating with Paton’s personnel staff at the weekend event, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. Jackson, 37, but saw action in just two games — for the Bills — last season. Although a suspension-marred season defined Jackson’s final year in Denver, the veteran safety was a regular starter for five seasons with the team.

The longtime Justin Simmons sidekick signed four Broncos contracts and started 69 games with the team, completing a conversion from cornerback to safety in that time. Jackson making inroads on the scouting side, and not as a coach, would be interesting as well. Paton was not yet in Denver when the Broncos initially signed Jackson in 2019, but he authorized three one-year contracts to keep the veteran DB on the roster. This included an immediate return, via pay cut, after a release in Paton’s first offseason as Broncos GM.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/25/25

Today’s standard gameday practice squad elevations in advance of championship Sunday:

Buffalo Bills

Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/25

Saturday’s minor transactions and more standard gameday practice squad elevations for the wild-card round of the playoffs:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

As a member of the practice squad this year, Clifford, the second-year passer out of Penn State, was elevated twice. As a member of the active roster, he will be able to serve as Green Bay’s emergency third quarterback, which could be beneficial after starter Jordan Love was knocked out of the team’s Week 18 loss with an elbow injury on his throwing arm, and his backup, Malik Willis, was dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Both players had two full practices this week and carry no injury designation, but the team will be taking no chances.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/24

Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

After being activated from injured reserve in early November, Bates only played two games before suffering a concussion. The 27-year-old has not played since Week 11 and will now miss the remainder of the season on IR. Bates is under contract through 2025.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/24

Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Demercado has taken a backseat to Florida State third-round rookie Trey Benson, but he has averaged 9.3 yards per carry on 24 carries this year. Palardy will take over punting duties with Gillikin landing on injured reserve.

Jackson signed with Bills in late July, and although he was among the team’s final roster cuts he was immediately retained via a practice squad deal. This elevation means Week 15 will mark his first time spent on the active roster this season. The 36-year-old has started all but 10 of his 203 NFL games, but last season was marred by suspensions which led to his Broncos release. Jackson could suit up for Buffalo down the stretch as a gameday elevation in a bid to rebuild his stock to a degree.

With the playoffs nearly out of reach and quarterback Joe Burrow dealing with a few ailments (wrist and knee), the Bengals don’t seem to be taking any chances. Jake Browning will continue serving as the primary backup, while Woodside’s promotion will allow him to act as the emergency backup.

Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field as early as tomorrow.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BillsDolphinsJets and Patriots moves are noted below.

Buffalo Bills

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Miami Dolphins

Released:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

New England Patriots

Signed:

Claimed:

Released:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

New York Jets

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Bills Pare Roster To 53; LB Matt Milano Receives IR-Return Designation

Here is how the Bills dropped their roster to the 53-man limit:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

  • T Travis Clayton

Placed on IR (return designation)

Milano suffered a biceps tear and will aim to return late in the season, though the All-Pro linebacker’s injury trouble is obviously a big-picture concern at this point. The Bills are also using one of their eight IR activations, mandated for teams who take advantage of the new rule to designate IR-return players today, on a backup running back. That is a rather interesting decision, as Evans has totaled just 62 carries since being drafted in the 2020 third round.

Residing on the Bills’ roster bubble going into camp, Damar Hamlin made the team. Ditto Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined Hamlin on the bubble. The bubble burst — for the time being, at least — on Collins and Clapp, who were vying for swing spots. Collins had been shuttled to guard — where he had not played since 2016 — in recent practices. Jackson joined the Bills after they ran into some injury trouble at safety early in camp.

Steveson, who has an Olympic wrestling gold medal, could be a practice squad candidate. The Eagles carried Olympian hurdler Devon Allen on their P-squad for two years, though the latter has far more football seasoning compared to Steveson. Attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Bills gig, Gore is a P-squad candidate, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. He will need to clear waivers first.

Bills Sign S Kareem Jackson

The Bills have added further experience at the safety position. Kareem Jackson has signed a deal with Buffalo, per a team announcement.

Jackson began his career with the Texans, spending nine seasons with the organization. That was followed by a four-plus-year tenure in Denver, one during which he remained a full-time starter. Jackson, 36, formed an effective tandem with Justin Simmons for much of his time in the Mile High City.

Last season, however, things took an unwanted turn for Jackson. The former first-rounder was suspended for repeated instances of unnecessary roughness. That ban was reduced to two games on appeal, but in his first game back on the field Jackson committed another helmet-to-helmet hit and was suspended for four games. He was waived by the Broncos in December before being claimed by the Texans in a reunion with head coach (and former teammate) DeMeco Ryans.

Jackson played sparingly in his return to Houston, and to little surprise he had to wait until after the start of training camp to find a new deal. The Colts hosted him on a visit, but instead the Alabama product will spend the coming weeks in Buffalo trying to carve out a roster spot. The Bills released Jordan Poyer in one of many decisions to move on from veteran players this offseason, and fellow longtime starter Micah Hyde remains unsigned amidst an uncertain future.

The team added Mike Edwards in free agency while re-signing Taylor Rapp. Those two, along with special teamer Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop, are set to compete for 53-man places and playing time. Hamlin was already thought to be on the roster bubble given the additions made this offseason, and Jackson now being in the fold could narrow his path to a roster spot.

Jackson has 203 regular season games to his name, but his age and discipline issues from last season will no doubt lower expectations for him in Buffalo. If he manages to impress over the coming weeks – and particularly if Hyde elects to officially hang up his cleats – though, he could survive roster cutdowns and continue his career with a third NFL team.

S Kareem Jackson Visits Colts

After spending the majority of his career in Houston, Kareem Jackson is flirting with another AFC South squad. According to Howard Balzer, the veteran safety visited the Colts today.

[RELATED: Colts Resume Julian Blackmon Talks]

After spending four-plus seasons with the Broncos, Jackson was claimed off waivers by the Texans in December, kicking off his second stint with the organization. The former first-round pick spent the first nine seasons of his career in Houston, including 2010 and 2011 campaigns where he played alongside current head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Jackson was limited to only 39 defensive snaps in his two appearances last season with the Texans, but he did start each of his eight appearances for the Broncos, compiling 51 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Pro Football Focus ultimately graded him 52nd among 95 qualifying safeties in 2023, including a top-20 positional grade for his coverage skills.

While Jackson’s 2023 ranking proved that he was still serviceable during his age-35 season, he’s pretty far removed from his top-end play during his first stint in Houston and his first few years in Denver. Jackson graded out as a top-10 safety in both 2019 and 2020, but he’s struggled to crack the top half of his position over the past three years.

In Indianapolis, Jackson would provide the Colts with some experienced depth, especially as they face some uncertainty at the position. We heard earlier today that the Colts had reengaged in talks with Julian Blackmon, although the starter has attracted interest from other teams. Otherwise, the team would have Rodney Thomas II and Nick Cross penciled in as the starting safeties. Thomas got an extended look in the starting lineup last season, but Cross (and Ronnie Harrison) ended up passing him on the depth chart by the end of the year.

Texans Claim S Kareem Jackson Off Waivers, Place S Jimmie Ward On IR

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.