The Eagles are expected to have DeSean Jackson back from a hamstring injury for tomorrow night's game against the Giants. It will probably get some excited, remembering some big games he had against this opponents in bygone years. But I think those days are probably over.
Jackson is 33, and been plagued by hamstring injuries in recent years. Since starting out strong for Tampa Bay in 2018, with three 100-yard games in the first month, it's been far more bad than good for him. Injuries, games where he was quiet, and games where he did put up only modest numbers.
In 13 games since early in 2018 -- and I'm leaving out a game he started but wasn't even targeted before needing to leave early -- he's reached 70 receiving yards twice, and scored 4 touchdowns. He's caught more than 3 passes in just over a third (5) of those contests. He looks a lot more likely to hurt a lineup than to help one.
| DJAX, LAST 13 GAMES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Opp | Tgt | No | Yds | TD |
| 2018 | at Atl. | 9 | 4 | 77 | 0 |
| 2018 | Clev. | 4 | 2 | 25 | 1 |
| 2018 | at Cin. | 8 | 3 | 68 | 1 |
| 2018 | at Car. | 4 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
| 2018 | Wash. | 8 | 5 | 67 | 0 |
| 2018 | at NYG | 7 | 4 | 38 | 0 |
| 2018 | S.F. | 8 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
| 2018 | at Dall. | 4 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
| 2019 | Wash. | 9 | 8 | 154 | 2 |
| 2019 | Chi. | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | Wash. | 7 | 2 | 46 | 0 |
| 2020 | LAR | 9 | 6 | 64 | 0 |
| 2020 | Cin. | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
| Average | 6.3 | 3.3 | 48 | 0.3 | |
You never know. Giants are a pretty sorry team, and they're certainly capable of having a busted coverage at some point tomorrow night.
But I think it's more likely Jackson limps off with a re-aggravation of that hamstring injury at some point. I'll go with Travis Fulgham over the veteran and take my chances.
--Andy Richardson