By Teddy Brenner
Well, it didn’t take long for the Eagles’ twice-cut wide receiver DeSean Jackson to find another job.
In his hometown!
The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with D-Jax, ensuring that new quarterback Matthew Stafford will have someone to throw to next season.
Jackson became a free agent when he was released by the Eagles in February.
Jackson’s return to the Eagles was limited by injuries since he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019, reuniting the deep-threat receiver with the team that drafted him.
The excitement of the reunion was fueled by two touchdowns of longer than 50 yards in the 2019 opener against Washington, but Jackson wound up playing in just three games that season because of a core muscle injury. Jackson then missed 11 games in 2020 with an injured ankle.
Overall, he has 612 receptions for 10,656 yards and has scored 60 touchdowns (including four rushing and four punt returns). He was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2008 draft and played six seasons in his first stint with the team, before joining Washington in 2014.
In Los Angeles, Jackson reunites with McVay, who served as his offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Washington Football Team from 2014 to 2016. Jackson joins a receiving corps that includes Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and second-year pro Van Jefferson. The Rams also utilize tight end Tyler Higbee in the passing game.
However, McVay’s offense has lacked a true deep-threat receiver since trading Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans after the 2019 season.
“We need to be more explosive offensively, but we’ve been a really explosive offense with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Higbee being centerpieces of it; those guys are going to continue to be that,” McVay said. “But when you talk about opportunities, you have to call plays that give you an opportunity to be explosive, and that’s where my contribution is. Anytime that you have guys that can do that, that definitely is a benefit.”
