How much longer will Kareem Jackson keep going for the Broncos?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Something was missing when Kareem Jackson wasn’t on the field for the Broncos’ May 23 OTA. It was quieter.

Even the vocal presence of coach Nathaniel Hackett couldn’t quite compensate — although he made an attempt.

“I think he was a little bit more amped once ‘Jack’ wasn’t here,” Simmons said that day. “Maybe the energy stays the same when ‘Jack’ gets back. I don’t know. Hackett was chirping a little bit.”

That day, Jackson’s trash-talking — a common part of his work on the field — was missed. Simmons, his fellow safety of the past three season, tried to compensate.

“Yeah, I tried,” Simmons said. “It’s just not the same. It’s just he’s the one who does it. He’s the energy bringer.”

Jackson returned later in the week. He remained on the field Tuesday when the Broncos began their second week of OTAs.

As ever, Jackson chirped.

“I don’t hold back. I’m sure, you can ask [Hackett] and he’ll let you know: I don’t hold back,” Jackson said. “But it’s all fun. As long as I’m coming out and I’m doing what I’m supposed to do: I’m executing, I’m communicating, I’m helping the young guys out and doing what I’m supposed to do as a leader, I don’t think he’ll mind some of the stuff I say.”

Indeed, Hackett doesn’t mind.

“I love me some Kareem,” Hackett said, adding, “I love his intensity and competitiveness; I think that’s something that shows up every day.

“… He’s talking nonstop. He plays the game like it should be, and I love that about him. I love chirping back and forth with him. It just brings that energy and excitement to practice because that’s real football.”

It was also real defense for the Broncos with Jackson patrolling one safety spot. Open receivers were few and far between, and when Russell Wilson went back to pass, he didn’t find deep alleys to exploit. Having Jackson roaming — which, in turn, allows Simmons to cover more deeper ground — helped the defense have a strong day.

So, Jackson can still play and be a positive force on Ejiro Evero’s defense.

But at age 34, the question now is obvious: For how long will he continue?

“As long as my body allows me to,” Jackson said. I feel pretty good right now. With that comes a lot with me doing stuff on my own outside of the facility and even here. It takes a little while to kind of get going, but I still feel really good.”

This is Jackson’s 13th NFL season since he was the No. 20 overall pick in 2010. He is one of just six first-round picks from the 2010 class currently under contract with an NFL team.

After making $11,323,530 per season on his first Broncos contract, his per-year outlay has dropped — to $5 million last year and $2 million in 2022. Incentives could take him up to $5 million this fall.

Nevertheless, the question that will arise as NFL teams continue to concentrate a heavy amount of their cap resources on a few superstars at the top, with most of the balance of the roster consisting of cost-controlled, first-contract players. The middle class of the NFL is shrinking, and it has squeezed out many proven, still-productive veterans.

Jackson, so far, has survived — although he was cut in 2021 and lingered on the market for 22 days this year. But his return was a welcome one for the Broncos. They like their depth at the position, with players like 2021 fifth-round pick Caden Sterns, veteran P.J. Locke and free-agent pickup J.R. Reed, who projects as a special-teamer.

But Jackson brings something extra in experience, leadership and intensity.

“You get out there and this is a guy — heck, he may be as old as me, but he plays hard every snap,” Hackett said. “He gets into it.”

He’s going from year-to-year and day-to-day.

“For me, I’m going to go until my body tells me it’s time to hang it up,” he said.

And whenever the end comes, Broncos practice just won’t be the same without him. Simmons noticed that last week while Jackson was at a graduation ceremony for his daughter.

“I’m happy for him and his family, but we have to figure out how to replace that,” Simmons said, “because it’s not easy.”

As long as Jackson keeps playing well, that day can wait at least a little while longer.

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