BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The Buffalo Bills have tentatively agreed to acquire quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that a deal is close. The deal won’t go through until the Bills complete negotiations with Jackson’s agent to restructure the final year of the player’s contract, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because neither team has announced the trade.
Jackson is scheduled to make $4 million this season, which the Bills deem to be too expensive for a player to fill a backup job.
It’s unclear what the Seahawks will get in return, though it’s expected to be a mid- to late-round draft pick from Buffalo.
Jackson’s future was in question with the Seahawks after the team acquired Matt Flynn in free agency this offseason, and after using a third-round pick to draft Russell Wilson in April.
Jackson sat out the Seahawks’ first two preseason games, before getting his first action taking over for Wilson in the second half of a 44-14 win over Kansas City on Friday.
And Jackson served as the backup in part because Flynn missed the game due to a sore elbow.
The Bills’ interest in Jackson potentially spells trouble for Vince Young in his bid to win the backup job in Buffalo behind starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Young, who signed a one-year contract with Buffalo in May, had the edge to win the No. 2 job until he struggled in a 38-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Young threw two interceptions, the first coming on his first pass attempt, and finished 12 of 26 for 103 yards in playing the entire second half.
Young had been competing with returning backup Tyler Thigpen for the No. 2 job. And coach Chan Gailey has maintained that there’s only room for one backup, because the No. 3 job is going to receiver/wildcat specialist Brad Smith.
Selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by Minnesota, Jackson had an up-and-down five-year career with the Vikings, His most productive season came in 2007, when he started 12 games.
He signed a two-year contract with the Seahawks last year, and was credited for playing a major role in the team’s turnaround after a 2-6 start. He posted career numbers in completions (271), attempts (450), 3,091 yards passing with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Jackson also earned plenty of support among his teammates after playing most of the season with a painful pectoral injury.
Jackson has had his faults, with much of the criticism focusing in on his decision-making and holding onto the ball too long.
There were also times he faltered in the fourth quarter _ including late-season home losses to Washington and San Francisco _ which contributed to costing the Seahawks a shot at playoff berth.
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AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.
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