ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Finally freed to play after serving two suspensions, Broncos’ co-captain Kareem Jackson will have to wait at least one more week to play in a game.
The Broncos did not activate Jackson to their 53-man active roster by the 2 p.m. Saturday deadline, meaning he will not play Sunday night when his team hosts the New England Patriots.
There were a few reasons why the Broncos decided to hold Jackson back this week.
One, he had missed seven of the previous eight weeks because of two separate suspensions for what the league deemed repetitive unnecessary roughness hits. At 35 years old, the Broncos wanted to break in Jackson with a week of practice before they have to make a roster move with him on Monday.
Two, P.J. Locke has played well in Jackson’s place. Locke became the first safety in Broncos’ history to have a sack in three consecutive games when he did so against the Browns, Texans and Chargers. He then took a road trip that covered nearly 40 hours and 2,600 miles roundtrip to play in the Broncos’ game last Saturday in Detroit.
Three, it’s difficult to activate a backup safety who doesn’t play special teams. Until his latest suspension, Jackson was a 14-year, every-down defensive starter who didn’t play much special teams.
Bronco Bits
Outside linebacker Ronnie Perkins and quarterback Ben DiNucci were elevated from the Broncos' practice squad for the game Sunday night against New England. Perkins will help replace Nik Bonitto who will miss his second consecutive game with a sprained MCL. DiNucci was elevated for a third time as a financial reward for not signing elsewhere. He was not activated on the game-day roster the previous two games he was elevated and most likely won't be again. ...
The NFL didn't fine any Broncos players from their game last Saturday at Detroit. Lions' safety Brian Branch was docked $8,103 for his helmet hit on tight end Adam Trautman.
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