The Buffalo Bills brought back a familiar face in CB Dane Jackson on Friday, signing him to a one-year deal. Jackson returned after leaving in free agency last off-season when he signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract.
Unfortunately, injury struck early for Jackson during his only season with the Panthers. He now comes back to Buffalo ready to re-establish his market and show he is still a starting cornerback in the NFL.
Read below for a full injury history of Dane Jackson and analysis.
Injury History
College: Pittsburgh
For a full college injury injury history, please click here.
NFL
2020 Buffalo Bills
No publicly reported injuries.
2021 Bills
Neck stinger, preseason game 2, missed 1 preseason game.
Jackson suffered a stinger trying to complete a tackle late in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears. He stayed in for several more plays before exiting for the day.
Knee injury, Week 2, missed 0 games.
Jackson suffered several blows to his knee in the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins. He was limited during the week and was questionable heading into the game before suiting up.
Knee injury, Week 5, missed 0 games.
After getting removed from the injury report in Week 4, he went right back on for another week without any additional information available.
2022 Bills
Left Knee, Week 1, missed 0 games.
Jackson tweaked his left knee during a one-on-one drill in practice that week which forced him to miss several practices. He was designated as questionable before playing.
Neck, Week 2, missed 1 game.
Jackson was backboarded off the field after a friendly fire incident in which Tremaine Edmunds delivered a late hit after Jackson had already taken the receiver down. This hit from Edmunds snapped Jackson’s head backwards, causing a neck sprain. He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation before being released and missed the following week.
Neck stinger, Week 6, missed 0 games.
Jackson briefly left the game in the third quarter after getting hit in the facemask while blocking. He was questionable to return but was able to finish the game.
Right side neck stinger, Week 9, missed 0 games.
Jackson completed a tackle and fell on his right shoulder, briefly requiring the training staff to assess him as he held his wrist. He was able to return after several snaps and finish the game.
Illness, Week 13, missed 0 games.
Right knee, Wild Card, missed 0 games.
Jackson injured his right knee during the Wild Card win over the Miami Dolphins late in the first half. Due to where the camera was pointed, we never got a good look at what happened but Sean McDermott noted he could have returned if he needed to.
2023 Bills
Foot injury, Week 5, missed 0 games.
Jackson battled plantar fasciitis for several weeks midway through the season which caused him to be limited on practice but not miss any games.
Concussion, Week 11, missed 1 game.
Jackson attempted to tackle Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert midway through the second quarter before Ruckert lowered his helmet to protect himself and collided. He required assistance to get off the field and missed the next game as he worked through the concussion protocol.
2024 Carolina Panthers
Hamstring injury, preseason, missed 7 total games.
Midway through training camp, Jackson suffered a significant hamstring injury that at the time was expected to keep him out at least six weeks. He missed the first six games of the season before returning in Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. He played 35 snaps before missing the following game.
He slowly ramped back up the next three games before seeing no snaps in Week 13 and then saw intermittent play the rest of the season.
Buffalo Bills Injury Analysis
Having a familiar face in the building is always helpful from a scheme perspective but also from a health perspective. Jackson knows the facility and area well to obtain whatever treatments he may require. He certainly has had his share of injuries but nothing stands out as a major concern.
The hamstring strain he suffered last season was at least a Grade 2 which is more significant and carries a longer timeframe for recovery. While the risk for another hamstring strain is there, typically I have seen the more severe hamstring strains take longer to recover but have less of a chance for recurrence due to the fact the muscle is allowed to heal. This may be what happens for Jackson in this case.
The only other things worth making sure they were ok are his neck injuries with his stingers and his knees. The stingers were likely due to continued irritation from the original hit from Tremaine Edmunds back in Week 2. Every hit from then on irritated the nerves and caused further problems. He hasn’t been on the injury report in two years for a neck issue which hopefully means it’s an isolated issue.
His knees have been more due to collisions which may show some arthritic changes but nothing that has significantly limited him.
Final Thoughts
There aren’t really any concerns moving forward with Dane Jackson as he enters the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills. He is certainly not a lock to make the roster but with the familiarity of the defense and roster, he has a solid shot.
I expect Jackson to deal with some bumps and bruises along the way but he is not at any increased risk for any potential issues. The Bills knew what they were getting when they brought him back and have a far better understanding of his risks compared to other free agents.
I wish Dane Jackson the best of luck and to remain healthy this season.
Top Photo Credit: Katie Stratman-USA Today
