As the Washington Commanders close out their home schedule on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, a matchup between two teams eliminated from postseason contention still carries meaning — especially for players fighting to define their future.
For Drake Jackson, whose re-emergence in Week 16 offered a glimpse of what could be both a short-term spark and a longer-term solution, he was a beacon of light throughout his first snaps in Washington.
Jackson, a second-round pick in 2022, entered the league with the San Francisco 49ers during the early tenure of now-Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Injuries disrupted what was once a promising start. Still, when healthy in 2022 and 2023, Jackson flashed legitimate pass-rush upside, combining for seven sacks while showing the first-step explosiveness that made him a Day 2 selection.
Commanders might have something in Drake Jackson after encouraging injury return
Then, a lost 2024 season due to injury placed his career at a crossroads.
Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles marked Jackson’s first NFL game action in nearly two years. While the box score won't jump off the page, the underlying performance absolutely should. On just 22 defensive snaps — seven of which came in true pass-rush opportunities — the USC product generated three pressures and three quarterback hurries, consistently stressing the edge.
What popped on tape wasn't just the pressure totals; it was how Jackson won. He was explosive off the snap from varying alignments, showed good hands, and the flexibility to turn the corner without losing balance — traits that are hard to teach and often take time to return after injury.
For a Commanders defense that has battled injuries and inconsistency along the defensive line all season, Jackson’s presence offers a potential injection of juice.
Now, he draws another opportunity on Christmas against a young and physical Cowboys offensive line that has endured its own growing pains. While Dallas will test him with power and length, Jackson’s speed-based approach can stress inexperienced offensive tackles, especially in obvious passing situations.
The upcoming game between two teams officially eliminated from playoff football is less about immediate results and more about evaluation. For Washington and head coach Dan Quinn, Jackson is a player to know for the now — and potentially one to know for the future.
And if the flashes from Week 16 carry over, the Commanders may have uncovered a meaningful rotational piece, or more, heading into 2026.