Jackson was placed on the reserve/retired list Thursday.
Jackson re-signed with the Lions on July 23 after appearing in 16 games with the team last season. He was expected to be competing with Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Mohamed Ibrahim for the team's No. 3 running back spot, while also possibly handling kick-return duties. Instead, he'll choose to pull himself out of the running and retire. If he does change his mind, Detroit will retain his rights and be able to bring him back in.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Headed to Detroit
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Jackson signed with the Lions on Saturday.
The move comes as the team also waived running back Greg Bell. Jackson primarily played on special teams last year for the Lions while spelling in for D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Jackson will figure to resume his role as a kick returner for the 2023 season, a role he carved for himself in 2022.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Emerges as kick returner
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Jackson rushed 42 times for 170 yards and one touchdown while catching 12 of 19 targets for 101 yards and one touchdown over 16 games in 2022.
After returning just five kicks in his previous four seasons, Jackson suddenly became a respectable kick returner while averaging the seventh-most yards per kick return (26.7) among players with at least 15 attempts. Thanks to an early season injury to Craig Reynolds, the Northwestern product also operated as a capable No. 2 or 3 running back most of the year depending on the availability D'Andre Swift. Now set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent, Jackson seems set for a raise relative to the one-year, $980,000 contract he honored this past season.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Snaps scaled back in return
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Jackson played six of the Lions' 60 snaps on offense and carried once for two yards while adding an 11-yard reception in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Packers.
Back in action after missing the Lions' Week 17 win over the Bears with a hip injury, Jackson saw his lowest snap share on offense since Week 8, when he played exclusively on special teams in a 31-27 loss to the Dolphins. Jackson will be ticketed for unrestricted free agency this offseason and should be able to find work with the Lions or another team, though likely as nothing more than a No. 2 or 3 option out of the backfield and kickoff return specialist. The 26-year-old produced capably enough in his limited opportunities in 2022, carrying 42 times for 170 yards (4.0 YPC) and a touchdown while adding 12 receptions for 101 yards and another score over his 16 appearances.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Full participant Wednesday
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Jackson (hip) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice.
Jackson landed on the injury report last Friday due to a hip injury and was ultimately sidelined for the Lions' Week 17 win over the Bears. However, the backup running back is full go to start Week 18 prep, suggesting that he's on track to suit up in Sunday's matchup with the Packers, a game that could have playoff implications for both teams if the Seahawks lose to the Rams earlier in the day. If available, Jackson should see his usual rotational role behind Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Won't face Bears
Rotowire
Jackson (hip) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Jackson was added to the injury report on Friday, suggesting he suffered the injury at some point during the week of practice. He saw his role slip in a Week 16 loss to the Panthers, but nevertheless, Jackson's absence will condense touches in Detroit's backfield to both Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift. Craig Reynolds will step into the third running back role in Jackson's absence.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Added to injury report
Rotowire
Jackson (hip) was added to the injury report Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup with Chicago, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Adding him as a limited participant at the end of the week suggests Jackson was injured at some point Thursday or Friday. If he can't suit up ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday, the Lions will turn to Craig Reynolds as their No. 3 back behind Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Logs negative yardage
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Jackson rushed once for minus-one yard while failing to secure his only target during Saturday's loss to the Panthers.
Jackson barely got the ball on a day the Lions' run game failed to show up. However, with Jamaal Williams (leg) exiting in the third quarter, Jackson could be set up to handle a heavy workload in Week 17 against Chicago if Williams can't play. While D'Andre Swift would presumably head the backfield in that situation, Jackson seems like the top candidate to handle Williams' between-the-tackles role depending on the status of Craig Reynolds, who was a healthy scratch Sunday after starting the season ahead of Jackson on the depth chart.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Receives handful of touches
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Jackson rushed six times for 16 yards while catching one of two targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 20-17 win over the Jets.
Jackson continued to serve as the clear No. 3 option behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. However, he could be in danger of losing touches in the coming weeks with a healthy Craig Reynolds back on the active roster.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Active for Week 15
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Jackson (illness) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Jets.
Jackson was a late addition to the injury report and listed as questionable due to an illness, but the backup running back has since cleared the aliment and will be good to go for Week 15. He figures to garner his usual role behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, as Craig Reynolds (coach's decision), who was activated off injured reserve Saturday, is inactive for Sunday's matchup.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Added to injury report
Rotowire
Jackson (illness) is now listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Jackson's addition to the Lions' injury report Saturday clouds his status ahead of Sunday's 1:00 ET kickoff. While working behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams in the team's Week 14 win over the Vikings, Jackson logged 20 snaps en route to rushing four times for 19 yards and a TD while catching his only target for 12 yards.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Role shrinking
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Jackson rushed once for four yards while catching three of five targets for 19 yards during Sunday's win over Jacksonville.
Jackson logged his lowest proportion of offensive snaps (21 percent) in five weeks on a day that D'Andre Swift (51) regained lead duties in the Lions backfield from Jamaal Williams (30). As long as Swift and Williams stay healthy, Jackson's snaps figure to remain in check. The Northwestern product will remain off the fantasy radar Week 14 against Minnesota.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Five touches on Thanksgiving
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Jackson rushed four times for four yards while catching one of two targets for 15 yards during Thursday's loss to the Bills.
Jackson logged double-digit offensive snaps for the fourth straight week despite both Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift being available. However, Swift's playing time continues to trend upwards as he distances himself from shoulder and ankle injuries that forced him to miss time earlier this season, and Jackson subsequently saw a downturn in playing time compared to last week. While Jackson should remain involved in the offense with Craig Reynolds (ribs) sidelined and Detroit needing to keep Swift out of the injury tent, Jackson's primary value as a fantasy asset remains as the potential early-down injury replacement for Jamaal Williams and his league-leading 13 touchdowns.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Six touches against Chicago
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Jackson rushed four times for 14 yards while catching two of three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 31-30 win over Chicago.
While Jackson didn't see more playing time than D'Andre Swift this time, he didn't see much less either as he logged 16 snaps on offense compared to Swift's 18. Meanwhile, Jamaal Williams (24 snaps) again led the Lions backfield. It will be interesting to see if Swift's playing time increases as he further distances himself from his shoulder and ankle injuries, or if Jackson will maintain a significant role.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Rushes for 27 yards
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Jackson rushed four times for 27 yards during Sunday's 15-9 win over Green Bay.
Jackson wound up logging the second-most snaps among Lions running backs thanks to Craig Reynolds (ribs) being forced out of the game early and the injury-prone D'Andre Swift being slowly worked back into the game plan. While it is possible Swift could see more work in Week 10 against Chicago, Jackson could still see another handful of touches if Reynolds misses time.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Another handful of touches
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Jackson rushed three times for 14 yards but was unable to secure his only target during Sunday's 29-0 loss to the Patriots.
Jackson again saw a little work on offense with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) still on the sidelines, but he was a clear third wheel behind Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds. With Swift expected back after the Lions' Week 6 bye, Jackson should return to containment on special teams in Week 7 against the Cowboys.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Sees time in offense
Rotowire
Jackson rushed twice for three yards while catching two of two targets for four yards during Sunday's 48-45 loss to the Seahawks.
The former Charger saw his first nine offensive snaps of the season but didn't do much with the touches he was given, unlike both Jamaal Williams (108 yards on 19 carries) and Craig Reynolds (30 yards on two carries). Jackson will remain off the fantasy radar in Week 5 against the Patriots.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Signed to active roster
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The Lions signed Jackson to their active roster Wednesday, Jeff Risdon of USA Today reports.
Jackson was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad for Week 1 and didn't record any touches, though he did operate as the team's primary kick returner. As long as D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are healthy, the 2018 seventh-round pick figures to garner a similar role moving forward.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: No offensive snaps
Rotowire
Jackson did not log an offensive snap during Sunday's 38-35 loss to the Eagles.
The No. 3 running back on the depth chart, Craig Reynolds, did not log an offensive snap, so it's no surprise that Jackson didn't see any either. Even if something were to happen to D'Andre Swift or Jamaal Williams, Jackson appears to be more than one injury away from gaining fantasy relevance.
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Lions' Justin Jackson: Joins active roster
Rotowire
Jackson has been elevated to the Lions' active roster for their Week 1 game against the Eagles.
Jackson was unable to make it through Detroit's final roster cuts and ultimately signed to their practice squad as a result. Now, after all that, he's a candidate to suit up for the team's opening game and provide depth at running back.
