The Green Bay Packers have claimed veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson on waivers from the New Orleans Saints, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Tuesday.
The Packers have placed defensive tackle Rod Walker on injured reserve to make room for the 6-2, 330-pound Jackson on the team's 53-man active roster. Walker sat out Sunday night's game against Minnesota with a knee injury suffered in the St. Louis game October 19.
Jackson, a seven-year veteran who played his first five seasons for Oakland, started 47 of 82 games in his first six seasons, posting 269 tackles, 25 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 12 passes defensed.
In 2002, his initial season with New Orleans, Jackson led the Saints' interior linemen in tackles with (55), sacks (5.5) and fumble recoveries (3). He had six of those tackles (all solo) against the Packers in their Sept. 15, 2002, invasion of the Louisiana Superdome.
Thus far this season, Jackson had registered 30 tackles and 3.5 quarterback sacks in 7 games prior to being placed on waivers Nov. 3.
Statistically, the 30-year-old Knoxville College alumnus had his most productive year in 2001 with Oakland, posting a career-high 69 tackles while playing in all 16 games.
Originally a sixth-round selection of the Raiders in 1997, the 193rd player chosen overall, he played in 67 games for Oakland, with 32 starts.
Jackson has been assigned jersey number 75.
In another transaction, the Packers have released defensive tackle Michael Landry from the team's practice squad.
