Tag: kearis jackson

Former Georgia WR signs with Houston Texans

Former Georgia wide receiver, kick return specialist signs reserve/futures deal with the Houston Texans

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver and kick returner Kearis Jackson signed a reserve/futures contract with the Houston Texans. Jackson spent the second half of the 2024 NFL season on the New York Giants’ practice squad, but did not see any action.

Jackson spent the 2023 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans. He returned six punts for 48 yards in two games. The Titans waived Jackson ahead of the 2024 season. He signed with the Giants in October.

Jackson will look to carve out a role with the Texans. The 6-foot, 200-pound receiver is primarily a special teams player at this point in his NFL career and is still looking to breakthrough to receive offensive snaps. He recorded 78 receptions for 1,107 receiving yards and four touchdowns over his five-season (2018-2022) career at the University of Georgia.

The Texans are coming off a loss in the NFL playoffs to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jackson provides receiver and special teams depth for the Texans.

Former Georgia WR signs with the Giants

Former UGA football standout wide receiver, punt returner signs the New York Giants, who released a former Georgia WR in a corresponding move

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver and kick returner Kearis Jackson has signed with the New York Giants. Jackson signed with the Giants as a member of New York’s practice squad.

Jackson spent the 2023 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans. He returned six punts for 48 yards in two games. The Titans released Jackson ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

In a corresponding move, the Giants reached an injury settlement with former Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager, who is now a tight end at the NFL level.

Jackson did not record any statistics in New York’s 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Giants are 2-3 to start the season.

Kearis Jackson will look to carve out a role with the Giants as a punt returner or receiver. Star Giants receiver Malik Nabers missed New York’s most recent game due to injury.

Jackson will wear No. 81 with the Giants.

Giants sign CB Greg Stroman to practice squad, release three

The New York Giants signed two players to their practice squad on Tuesday and released three, one with an injury settlement.

The New York Giants made several changes to their practice squad on Tuesday, including the signing of return specialist Kearis Jackson — a move that had been reported a day earlier.

In addition to Jackson, the Giants also signed cornerback Greg Stroman to their reserve unit.

The 28-year-old Stroman was originally a seventh-round pick of the Washington Commanders in the 2018 NFL draft. After three years in D.C., Stroman split time between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams in 2021 before joining the Chicago Bears, where he’s spent the past two seasons.

In 29 career games (five starts), the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Stroman has recorded 65 tackles (47 solo, three for a loss), two QB hits, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, six passes defensed, and three interceptions.

Stroman also has limited special teams experience, returning 10 punts for 25 yards and six kickoffs for 110 yards.

In order to clear room for Jackson and Stroman, the Giants terminated the practice squad contracts of safety Alex Johnson and tight end Joel Wilson.

The team also announced that tight end Lawrence Cager was terminated from the practice squad with an injury settlement.

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Giants signing WR Kearis Jackson to practice squad

The New York Giants are signing wide receiver and return specialist Kearis Jackson to their practice squad.

The New York Giants have struggled on kickoff returns — and special teams as a whole — over the past two seasons and in an effort to alleviate those issues will be adding a specialist this week.

Art Stapleton of USA TODAY reports the Giants are signing wide receiver Kearis Jackson to their practice squad.

The 24-year-old Jackson signed with the Tennessee Titans after going undrafted out of Georgia in 2023. In two career games, he’s returned six punts for 48 yards and taken 21 special teams snaps.

Over his college career, the two-time national champion returned 35 kickoffs for 805 yards and 42 punt returns for 338 yards. Jackson also hauled in 78 receptions for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2022, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound Jackson earned Second-Team All-SEC honors.

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Titans’ Brian Callahan questions if bubble player has ‘earned’ spot on 53-man roster

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan sounded non-committal regarding Kearis Jackson’s spot on the 53-man roster.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kearis Jackson electrified Nissan Stadium with his ability in the kick return game during the team’s first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month.

Under the NFL’s new format, Jackson returned the first kick for 63 yards, which the Titans offense converted into a touchdown for the first time this preseason.

Jackson, who signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL draft, looked like a player who could possibly make the Titans’ 53-man roster as a depth wide receiver and primary kick returner.

That was then, this is now.

The Georgia product suffered a knee injury in the Titans’ preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks last week. Now, he may have lost his opportunity, as Brian Callahan hinted on Thursday.

Paul Kuharsky asked the Titans head coach if Jackson could be slotted in as the kick returner.

“I think you got to earn that right,” Callahan said. “I don’t know that he’s earned that yet, but I like what I’ve seen from him as a returner. He’s done some really good things, but I would say to label him in anything other than he’s trying to make our team is probably premature. I like what I’ve seen, but he hasn’t been out there for the last few days either, so that doesn’t help.”

With Jackson out, rookie wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson has been making the most of his opportunity, and he could be in line to make the team as part of next week’s roster trim.

The sixth-round pick in this year’s draft has showcased himself as a dynamic punt returner and paired that with a translatable skill set as a depth receiver. 

Jackson had four catches for 57 yards in 35 slot snaps for the Titans in the team’s 16-15 win over Seattle last weekend. Per Pro Football Focus, he was the seventh-highest-graded offensive player for Tennessee in that game.

As for Kearis Jackson, his timeline to return to the field remains to be determined, which could ultimately seal his fate regarding the 53-man roster ahead of the Titans’ Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

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Titans down multiple players for Wednesday’s practice

The Titans are feeling the effects of this part of the season with multiple players being held out of practice on Wednesday.

As the Tennessee Titans hit the field in preparation for their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, they are feeling the effects of the preseason grind. According to reports, multiple players will be held out of practice on Wednesday.

Defensive tackle TK McLendon Jr., who hurt his foot in the victory over the Seattle Seahawks, is the most significant. He is expected to miss multiple weeks of action after suffering a turf toe injury that impacts the defensive line’s overall depth.  

Wide receiver and kick returner Kearis Jackson was also injured against the Seahawks. He suffered a bone bruise in his knee during the first half and did not return. The injury deals a tremendous blow to Jackson, who is locked in a battle for one of the last roster spots. 

Tight end Josh Whyle and linebacker Otis Reese are both in the concussion protocol. Reese was also injured against the Seahawks. It is unclear when Whyle entered the protocol; he was one of many Titans held out of action against the Seahawks.

PHOTOS: Top images from Titans’ 17-13 preseason win over the 49ers

Some of the best images from the Titans’ preseason win vs. the 49ers.

The Tennessee Titans kicked off the 2024 preseason with a 17-13 win over the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

It was a good start for Tennessee’s first-team offense, as quarterback Will Levis led two touchdown drives. Levis was sharp, completing four of his five passing attempts and backups Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis picked right up where he left off.

Tennessee’s defense and special teams had some fun, too. Third-year linebacker Chance Campbell led all players with nine tackles and a sack. On special teams, second-year wide receiver Kearis Jackson had a highlight-worthy 63-yard kickoff return to set up Tennessee’s first touchdown.

Let’s look back at some of the best images from Tennessee’s win over San Francisco.

WATCH: Titans WR Kearis Jackson’s kick return vs. 49ers

Kearis Jackson making his case for the 53.

One year ago, the Tennessee Titans signed wide receiver Kearis Jackson as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Georgia. Jackson made Tennessee’s 53-man roster, becoming the primary punt returner.

In two games, Jackson returned six punts for 48 yards before an ankle injury ended his season in September.

The Titans fired former head coach Mike Vrabel in the offseason, replacing him with Brian Callahan. Callahan’s primary goal was to develop quarterback Will Levis, and surrounding Levis with multiple weapons was a part of general manager Ran Carthon’s strategy. The Titans added free-agent veteran wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, putting Jackson’s roster spot in jeopardy.

In Tennessee’s first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, Jackson showed why he belongs on the 2024 53-man roster. After the 49ers’ first touchdown, Jackson took the ensuing kickoff 63 yards, setting Levis and the offense with a short field for an easy touchdown.

Check it out:

Jackson’s return was phenomenal, and he showed the Titans why he is the perfect player to take advantage of the NFL’s new kickoff rule. There are still several players ahead of him, but his ability on special teams is undeniable. With the new rules, having a player dedicated as a punt/kick returner is more possible than in previous years.

Keep your eyes on Jackson over the next couple of weeks.

Titans promote Mason Kinsey, put Kearis Jackson on IR among 4 moves

Titans WR Mason Kinsey has been promoted to the active roster among 4 moves made Friday.

The Tennessee Titans made a total of four roster moves on the Friday before their Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns.

After suffering an ankle injury at practice during the week, wide receiver Kearis Jackson has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced. Jackson will miss at least the next four games.

Taking his spot on the roster is fellow wide receiver Mason Kinsey, who was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. Chances are Kinsey will handle punt and/or kick return duties while Jackson is out.

Now, a look at the rest of the moves the Titans made on Friday.

Titans’ Craig Aukerman confirms returners, talks Nick Folk kicking off

Titans special teams coach Craig Aukerman discussed who the returners will be for Week 1 and the team’s confidence in Nick Folk on kickoffs.

While the Tennessee Titans confirmed who their punt returner would be for the start of the season on their latest unofficial depth chart, the choice for kick returns remained up in the air.

Wide receiver Kearis Jackson was listed as the starter at punt returner, but the Titans had a slash between Jackson and running backs Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut at kick returner, signifying a decision had not been made.

However, when speaking to the media on Thursday, special teams coach Craig Aukerman said Jackson will handle both punt and kick returns, but Spears is also in the mix to bring back kickoffs for the season opener.

One of the topics of conversation when it comes to new Titans kicker Nick Folk was his low touchback percentage last season (9.1 percent), which led many to worry about how effective he’ll be in that area in Tennessee.

But that is not currently a concern for the Titans, as Aukerman revealed Folk will indeed handle kickoff duties in Week 1. He did, however, suggest that Tennessee will evaluate the situation from week to week.

Aukerman also touched on who may serves as gunners, listing wide receivers Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chris Moore, cornerback Anthony Kendall and safety Matthew Jackson as the top candidates.

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