The Washington Commanders threw edge rusher Drake Jackson a lifeline last season when the San Francisco 49ers gave up on him ever staying healthy. It was a risk worth taking at the time, but another devastating blow has now emerged.
Amid a flurry of moves made by the Commanders with a few days remaining until final cuts, Washington placed Jackson on injured/reserve. The nature of his complication wasn't disclosed, but given his concerning health problems throughout his career, this might be the end of the road.
Jackson was considered a long shot to make the 53-man roster. The Commanders strengthened their edge rushing unit this offseason, and the former USC standout just didn't do enough to stand out from the crowd. Now, his problems may run far deeper than an inevitable rejection when general manager Adam Peters trims the fat.
Commanders' gut-wrenching decision leaves Drake Jackson's career in tatters
The Commanders may wait before releasing Jackson with an injury settlement. His latest trip to injured/reserve might be precautionary, but it's the continuation of an extremely worrying trend.
The pass-rusher came into the league with immense promise as the No. 61 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. After an encouraging rookie campaign with the Niners, injuries blighted his growth. The Commanders gave him a shot, but aside from a few flashes during his three appearances last season, it's been underwhelming overall.
Now, his career is firmly on the brink.
Teams weren't beating down Jackson's door when he was cut loose by San Francisco. Washington gave him all the time needed to get healthy, and things have been looking up this offseason with no reported issues.
Peters knew him well from his time in San Francisco. He was part of the decision-making process that led to his drafting on Day 2, so there was clear confidence in his ability.
But not for the first time in his NFL journey, it didn't take long for things to disintegrate.
Drake Jackson's NFL dreams might be over after another injury blow
The Commanders don't have time to wait around. They have a lot riding on the 2026 campaign, and there is no room for passengers to secure bounce-back status. Jackson cannot be relied upon, and a departure from the organization seems imminent.
All Jackson can do is try to pick himself off the canvas again. Everything else is out of his hands now.
There's no information on his latest injury or its severity. It was enough for the Commanders to place him on the shelf, so there are many unknowns attached. Even so, his second chance in Washington went the same as his first in San Francisco.
And there might not be a third.
As everyone knows, availability is the best ability in the NFL. Jackson has played 26 games in four seasons and missed the entire 2024 campaign. It's worrying, so one has to wonder whether it's worth putting up another fight for an unlikely avenue back into the league elsewhere.
Time will tell on that, but it's not looking especially promising for Jackson after this latest crushing setback that all but ends his time stint with the Commanders.
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