Bills release longtime running back Fred Jackson

The Buffalo Bills have released veteran running back Fred Jackson.

The Buffalo Bills have released veteran running back Fred Jackson, the team announced Monday.

Jackson, 34, went undrafted out of Division-III Coe College in 2003. He played minor-league arena football for two seasons and spent one season in NFL Europa. He caught on with the Bills in 2007 after receiving a training camp invitation from Buffalo GM and Coe College alumnus Marv Levy. 

Jackson was the Bills’ primary running back last season, rushing for 525 yards and two touchdowns on 141 carries. Buffalo traded for Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy this off-season and also drafted Karlos Williams from Florida State. 

In a statement, Bills GM Doug Whaley called the choice to release Jackson a “difficult decision.”

.@buffalobills GM Doug Whaley has issued the following statement regarding the release of RB Fred Jackson: pic.twitter.com/nGvTUuy5zZ

— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) August 31, 2015

Jackson had been out three weeks with a hamstring injury but returned to action for Saturday’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He gained 41 yards on his first carry of the game. 

NFL teams have until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday to trim their rosters from 90 players to 75. 

- Dan Gartland