Veteran safety Kareem Jackson was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Houston Texans, the team where he spent the first nine seasons of his career.
Houston also placed safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve. Ward hurt his quadriceps in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans drafted Jackson in the first round of the 2010 draft as a cornerback. He became a safety when he joined the Denver Broncos in 2019.
But Jackson’s troubled tenure in Denver came to an end Monday when the team released him. Jackson has served two suspensions totaling six games this season due to hits deemed unnecessary roughness by the NFL. His second suspension concluded last week.
Jackson drew a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on Oct. 22. He later was suspended for four games, one day after a high blow to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Nov. 19.
Overall, Jackson has been fined a total of $89,670 this season for four illegal hits. He also has lost more than $838,000 in missed game checks.
Jackson, 35, has 952 tackles and 22 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He also has seven fumble recoveries, one returned for a score.
In eight games this season, Jackson recorded 51 tackles and two interceptions.
Jackson overlapped for two seasons in Houston with linebacker DeMeco Ryans — now the franchise’s head coach, and on the verge of taking the Texans (8-7) to the playoffs in his first season on the job.
Ward has 50 tackles and one interception in 10 games this season, his first with the Texans after nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
