Former Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson saw his first NFL opportunity end sooner than expected when the Green Bay Packers waived him Sunday as teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players.

The move, first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, marked a tough break for the 23-year-old who spent the past two seasons with the Crimson Tide after transferring from USC. Alabama fans who followed Jackson’s progress in Tuscaloosa had hoped the athletic defensive back would stick with the Packers after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the 201st overall pick.

Jackson arrived in Green Bay with impressive physical tools that stood out during his time at Alabama. At 6-foot-¾ and 194 pounds, he ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, numbers that matched the elite speed he showed as a high school track standout in California, where he once tied the state record in the 100-meter dash at 10.25 seconds.

His best college production came during the 2024 season with the Crimson Tide. Jackson started all 13 games that year, finishing with 52 tackles, two interceptions and nine passes defended. That performance helped elevate his draft stock after an up-and-down stretch at USC, where he appeared in 18 games over two seasons and recorded 35 tackles with four passes broken up.

The following year brought challenges. In 2025, Jackson played in all 15 games for Alabama but started only 10. He finished with 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup. Midseason, coaches pulled him from the starting lineup for several games amid inconsistent play, a common occurrence at a program stacked with talent. He responded by reclaiming a starting role for the final three contests, including the SEC championship game and College Football Playoff appearance.

That resilience drew positive notes from Alabama coaches and evaluators. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has long valued players who push through adversity, and Jackson’s path from a five-star high school recruit to a mid-round prospect reflected that quality.

Still, the transition to the NFL proved difficult this summer. A core muscle injury sidelined Jackson for portions of the offseason program and limited his early training camp work. When he returned for the final two preseason games, the results were uneven. He appeared in limited defensive snaps and struggled to make the consistent plays needed to secure a roster spot.

Analysts had flagged the consistency questions earlier. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote of Jackson before the draft: “Jackson is a smooth athlete with good size and elite track speed. In totality, the play and production have failed to match the traits dating back to his days at USC (2022-2023), but his 2024 tape gives evaluators the best look at his ceiling. He can disrupt from press but can be a step slow to transition in-phase from man.

“Tampa 2 and deep-zone coverages suit him best. Scheme won’t matter as much as consistency and confidence for Jackson, though.”

Under Gutekunst, sixth-round picks usually get a longer look. The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman noted the rarity of the decision: “Just the third of 14 sixth-round picks Brian Gutekunst has released on their rookie cutdown day.”

Across his four college seasons, Jackson appeared in 46 games and totaled 126 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 12 passes defended. His two years at Alabama accounted for the bulk of that production, with 91 tackles and eight passes broken up in 28 games for the Tide.

For Alabama supporters tracking former players, the waiver does not necessarily end Jackson’s NFL hopes. He could clear waivers and land on a practice squad, either in Green Bay or elsewhere, giving him more time to develop the consistency scouts sought. At his age and with his verified speed and size, opportunities often remain for athletic corners willing to refine their game.

Jackson’s story mirrors others who left Tuscaloosa with unfinished business. Many Tide defensive backs have needed an extra year or two to settle into professional roles. His college coaches praised how he handled the midseason setback in 2025, viewing it as preparation for the next level.

As the Packers finalize their roster and other teams complete their cuts, Jackson’s next chapter will unfold quickly. For fans who watched him start every game in 2024 and battle back in 2025, the hope is that the athletic traits that once made him a highly ranked recruit will eventually translate more fully on Sundays.

The Packers, known for developing late-round talent, made a clear evaluation based on the limited sample available this summer. Jackson now faces the reality many rookies encounter when the cuts arrive. How he responds could define the early portion of his professional career.