49ers are Placing DE Drake Jackson on Injured Reserve

2023 continues to be a disappointing year for Drake Jackson.

The 49ers are placing defensive end Drake Jackson on the Injured Reserve list.

Jackson is nursing a knee injury that is reportedly due to tendinitis, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Jackson will miss at least the next four games before the 49ers can activate his 21-day practice window. 

From what I understand, Drake Jackson was dealing with tendonitis in his knee & needed an injection. He must remain off the knee in order for that procedure to take effect. Of course, this underscores that newcomer Chase Young will be part – a big part? – of the DE rotation SUN.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 11, 2023

2023 continues to be a massive disappointment for Jackson. A ton of hype was placed on him in the offseason, which was created by the 49ers like head coach Kyle Shanahan. He started the season off well by registering three sacks in Week 1, but it is clear that it was a clean up job to reel in those sacks. 

Jackson hasn't registered a single sack since then and isn't even making an impact. The fact that the 49ers acquired Randy Gregory from the Broncos, then Chase Young from the Commanders proves that they don't believe in him either. The lack of effectiveness from Jackson plays a factor into the low sack numbers the 49ers have tallied thus far. That should all change now that they have an anchor opposite of Nick Bosa in Young. 

And now Gregory can strictly be a rotational player who can give the 49ers roughly 20 meaningful snaps a game. Should the 49ers start to pick it up in the pass rushing department, then it would be tough to imagine the rush to bring Jackson back. He has to stay on Injured Reserve for four games, but he can remain there past that. 

The 49ers could also use the entire three week practice window before making their decision to activate him as well. Either way, it looks like 2023 is going to be chalked up as another disappointing year for Jackson.