“Today, we had to make the hard decision to release Fred Jackson”, general manager Doug Whaley said in a statement.

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates his touchdown in front of Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Terence Garvin (57) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, August 29, 2015, in Orchard Park, New York.

The Buffalo Bills have reportedly cut ties with running back Fred Jackson.

The Buffalo Bills have released longtime franchise veteran Fred Jackson, as of Monday morning. Last season he led the team in rushing with 525 yards and in receptions with 66 catches for 501 yards and a touchdown.

The Coe College product ranks third in NFL history in career rushing yards by an undrafted player with 5,646 trailing only Houston’s Arian Foster (6,309) and former NFL back Priest Holmes (8,172).

With the trade that brought LeSean McCoy into the fold, young veterans Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown in place and Karlos Williams drafted in the fifth-round, it seems simply a numbers crunch that Jackson was unable to escape. During his time in the NIFL, Jackson played for Sioux City and Rhein. He sparked the team’s win over the Chicago Bears with an overtime run and helped rally the team around a common enemy in a win over Cleveland. He was also a four-time captain and twice the recipient of the Buffalo Bills’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to those who do exemplary work in the community. Cutting Jackson prior to the start of the season will save the Bills almost $3 million. The shocking news comes as the team prepares to cut its roster down to 75 players by Tuesday afternoon.