DeSean Jackson Heading for Surgery, Possibly Injured Reserve

Eagles veteran receiver expected to miss four to six weeks, but team expected to seek help at that position during bye week

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Monday that he has no regrets putting receiver DeSean Jackson back in the lineup Sunday against the Chicago Bears, even though Jackson managed just four snaps before being pulled from the game after feeling discomfort.

Now, that discomfort will require surgery, an option that Jackson declined after first suffering an abdomen injury back on Sept. 15. During the course of just those four snaps against the Bears, the abdominal muscle tore away from the bone. 

The surgery will take place Tuesday morning and Jackson is expected to be out four to six weeks.

Jackson, 32, spoke to reporters on Friday, but chose not to discuss the nature of the injury or how it happened.

The Eagles released a statement:

Statement from the Philadelphia Eagles regarding WR DeSean Jackson pic.twitter.com/iJjY11wf6a

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 4, 2019

He has played just 16 games twice in his 12-year career, with the most recent season coming in 2013. He signed a three-year $27 million contract on March 14 after the Eagles traded to get him from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Pederson said on Monday it wasn’t up to him to answer the question as to whether or not Jackson should have had surgery when the injury initially happened against the Atlanta Falcons in Week Two.

The coach alluded once again, as he has done previously, that the decision to not have surgery was up to Jackson in consultation with the medical staff. He pointed out that running back Corey Clement opted to have surgery on a shoulder he injured, also on Sept. 15. Clement was placed on Injured Reserve a couple weeks later.

“Corey elected to have some stuff done,” said Pederson. “Players elect to have stuff done. I think ultimately DeSean didn't want to have surgery when it happened. (DeSean) rehabbed it and got himself in a position to play. So I can't put words in players’ mouths or doctors’ mouths, that's not my position.”

Placing Jackson on Injured Reserve now becomes a real possibility, especially because the Eagles are dire need of help of the receiver position, with Alshon Jeffery struggling through perhaps his worst game as an Eagle on Sunday and emerging with an ankle injury late in the win, Nelson Agholor unproductive, Mack Hollins invisible, and rookie second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside unable to find his way onto the field for whatever reason.

The Eagles have just seven games remaining after this weekend’s bye. To continue to carry Jackson on the 53-man roster with the hopes he can return for the final game or two will be something the Eagles have to decide this week.

Pederson hinted that the team will take a look at other receiver options during their bye.

“At this point it’s something we'll take a look at,” said Pederson. “We have to take a look at it, obviously. It's real. We're sort of at the halfway point, a little over a game over the halfway point of our season and we have time this week to make these decisions. We'll take a look at it, but nothing right now.”

The Eagles have three receivers on their practice squad: Greg Ward, Robert Davis, and Marcus Green.

Free agents that could interest the Eagles include Jordan Matthews, Terrell Pryor, Donte Moncrief and Kevin White, among others.

Troubled free agent Antonio Brown is still available. The NFL, however, is still investigating Brown for various charges and could end up suspending him if he eventually signs with another team.

The Eagles could have put a waiver claim in for Josh Gordon last week, but chose not to and Gordon ended up with Seattle. The Seahawks said they looked into the possibility of bringing in Brown, but chose to go with Gordon instead.