Source: Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t plan to re-sign with Seahawks before free agency

Tarvaris Jackson reportedly agreed to a deal worth less money than other offers to stay in Seattle in 2015. (AP)

The presence of Tarvaris Jackson at backup quarterback has been a reassuring one for the Seahawks the past two seasons, but that may not be the case in 2016.

A source close to Jackson told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jessamyn McIntyre that the veteran QB doesn’t plan to re-sign with Seattle before free agency begins, and that he took a deal worth less money than offers he received from other teams to return to the Seahawks in 2015.

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The fact that Jackson will test free agency doesn’t rule him out for re-signing with Seattle – it wasn’t until June of last year that he and the Seahawks agreed to a contract for 2015 – but it certainly creates the possibility that Seattle will have a new backup quarterback situation in 2016.

Jackson, 32, played on a $1.5 million contract with the Seahawks for the 2015 season, according to OverTheCap.com. That was a raise from the $1.25 million he made on a one-year deal for the previous season, and $840,000 in 2013.

In three years as the backup to Russell Wilson, Jackson has appeared in eight regular season games and one postseason game for Seattle. He played in four games in 2015, completing four of six pass attempts for 37 yards.

Jackson, a 10-year NFL veteran, was the Seahawks’ primary starting quarterback during the 2011 season.

He is one of 17 unrestricted free agents from Seattle’s 2015 team.

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