Safety Kareem Jackson could become the fourth former Alabama player to reach 15 NFL seasons when the Buffalo Bills face the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Currently on the Bills’ practice squad, Jackson will be eligible to play after being promoted to the active roster by Buffalo on Saturday.
Quarterback Bart Starr played 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971.
Punter Chris Mohr (1989-2004) and quarterback Ken Stabler (1970-1984) are the other Alabama alumni to play in 15 seasons.
Jackson, along with linebackers Cornelius Bennett and Lee Roy Jordan, has appeared in 14 NFL seasons, making them the next most-experienced Alabama alumni in league history.
With 203 regular-season NFL games, Jackson ranks fourth among Alabama alumni. Mohr played in 239 games, tight end Howard Cross in 207, and Bennett in 206 during their careers.
When Jackson joined the Bills as a free agent during training camp in July, he had 193 career starts. However, he didn’t make the final roster and re-signed to the practice squad.
NFL teams can promote two players from their practice squad for each game, and this is Jackson’s first promotion this season.
The Bills elevated Jackson due to injuries to their starting safeties, Damar Hamlin (back and ribs) and Taylor Rapp (neck and shoulder), both listed as questionable.
Buffalo will face Detroit in a matchup of playoff-bound teams at 3:25 p.m. CST on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.