Austin Carr, Joe Jones make 53-man rosters, Justin Jackson cut

UPDATE: Justin Jackson has since been waived by the Chargers after the team signed Antonio Gates.

UPDATE: Linebacker Joe Jones has made the Broncos 53-man roster. Jones played in seven games for the Broncos last season, and has become a special teams ace for Denver.

Two of Northwestern’s best offensive players in recent memory have made their respective NFL teams.

Despite being hurt for most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, former NU running back Justin Jackson has made the Chargers 53-man roster, the team announced on Twitter Sunday.

And, second-year pro Austin Carr has made the Saints, per New Orleans Advocate reporter Nick Underhill.

Jackson is one of four running backs on the 53, along with Melvin Gordon III, Austin Ekeler and Detrez Newsome. Fullback Derek Watt also made the team.

The Ball Carrier made his preseason debut Thursday against the 49ers, rushing for 18 yards on seven carries, including a 16-yard scamper. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is a former running backs coach, which likely helped Jackson’s cause.

Jackson should only continue to get more comfortable in his role as he gets more reps with Los Angeles, though he’s still an injury or two away from seeing meaningful playing time once the regular season gets going.

Carr, meanwhile, didn’t really flash a ton in the preseason, but made the team nonetheless. The former Biletnikoff finalist made the team last season, but didn’t play much.

In other notable Northwestern NFL news, the Vikings released defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo, though they hope to retain him on their practice squad. Odenigbo showed some explosiveness as a pass-rusher, but Minnesota has one of the deeper defenses in the league, making his inclusion on the final 53 more difficult.

Godwin Igwebuike, Ibraheim Campbell, Warren Long, Tyler Lancaster, Kyle Queiro and Garrett Dickerson also got cut.