Released by the Denver Broncos on Monday, former Alabama defensive back Kareem Jackson is returning to his original NFL team as a waiver claim.

A first-round draft pick from Alabama’s undefeated 2009 BCS national-championship by the Houston Texans in 2010, Jackson signed as a free agent with the Broncos after the 2018 season and made the transition from cornerback to safety in Denver.

On Tuesday, the Texans placed safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury and filled the former Davidson High School standout’s spot on the active roster with Jackson after the 15 teams ahead of Houston in the waiver order passed on putting in a claim for the safety.

“I’m thrilled to be back with the Texans,” Jackson told KPRC-TV in Houston. “It’s all coming full circle, having spent a lot of time in Houston. I’m really excited and happy for (Houston coach) DeMeco (Ryans) and all the success he’s having. Being a part of that organization, seeing DeMeco getting the job and all his success, just being happy for him.

“They’ve got a bunch of young talent there. I want to come in, be a piece of the puzzle and help these guys win the next two games and get to the playoffs.”

Also a former Alabama standout, Ryans is in his first season as the Texans coach. Ryans was a Houston linebacker during Jackson’s first two NFL seasons with the Texans.

With an 8-7 record, Houston is tied for the AFC South lead with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts with two weeks remaining in the regular season. In the current playoff standings, the Jaguars own the division’s No. 1 spot and the Colts are in the final wild-card spot via tiebreakers, with the Texans the first team out of the playoffs.

Houston hosts the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and visit Indianapolis for its regular-season finale on Jan. 7.

In his 13th NFL season, Jackson reached a career high with 94 tackles in 2022 with the Broncos. But in Denver’s first 14 games of the 2023 season, Jackson started eight and was suspended for six.

The Broncos faced a Monday deadline to restore Jackson to their 53-player active roster or release him. Denver had received a roster exemption for Jackson last week as he practiced for the first time after serving a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL.

On Nov. 20, the NFL suspended Jackson for four games for unnecessary roughness for his hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on the third snap of the Broncos’ 21-20 victory the previous day. Denver recovered Dobbs’ fumble on the Vikings 30-yard line and got to keep it since no penalty was called.

Jackson appealed the suspension, but the NFL’s decision was upheld – a different outcome from Jackson’s appeal of his first suspension of the 2023 season.

On Oct. 23, the NFL suspended Jackson for four games for a hit in the Broncos’ 19-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers the previous day. On the third snap of the fourth quarter, Jackson brought down Packers tight end Luke Musgrave with what was judged a helmet-to-helmet hit at the end of an 18-yard reception. Jackson was penalized for unnecessary roughness and disqualified from further participation.

Jackson appealed the suspension to the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFL Players Association to decide appeals of on-field player discipline, and Derrick Brooks reduced the suspension to two games.

Jackson was fined by the NFL four times for unnecessary roughness in the first six weeks of the 2023 season. Twice the fines stemmed from penalties called on the field.

The NFL fined Jackson $14,819 in Week 1, $19,669 in Week 2, $11,473 in Week 3 and $43,709 in Week 6.

In Denver’s 35-33 loss to Washington on Sept. 17, Jackson was penalized and ejected for a hit on Commanders tight end Logan Thomas on a touchdown reception with 1:47 left in the first half.

Among Crimson Tide alumni, only Chris Mohr, Howard Cross and Cornelius Bennett have played in more NFL regular-season games than Jackson’s 201 and only Bennett has started more games than Jackson’s 193.

Mohr has appeared in 239 regular-season games, Howard Cross 2007 and Bennett 206. Bennett has started 204 games.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.