DeSean Jackson - Pro Football Rumors

Ravens To Meet With WR DeSean Jackson

October 17th, 2022 at 8:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

DeSean Jackson said during a recent appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast he is not retired and sought an opportunity to return to the Eagles or play for the Packers (Twitter link). It appears the 14-year veteran open to teams outside of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Ravens are planning to bring in Jackson for a Tuesday visit, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Jackson, 35, spent last season with the Rams and Raiders but has now played for five teams in his career.

Bouncing from Philadelphia to Washington to Tampa and back to Philly prior to his two-team 2021, Jackson (five 1,000-yard seasons) has been one of the great deep threats in NFL history. He was not especially consistent last season but came through in some big spots. Jackson helped the Rams beat the Bucs in Week 3, making three receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown, and produced his other 100-yard game on Thanksgiving — during a contest in which the then-Raiders wideout also drew attention in the form of pass interference penalties.

Jackson finished last season with 20 catches for 454 yards; the 22.7 per catch doubled as a career-high figure (albeit on lower-than-usual volume). The former Cal standout said this offseason he was pondering retirement, but there appears a clear path to a 15th season.

Baltimore has played the past two games without top wideout Rashod Bateman, whom John Harbaugh said has a sprained left foot. Bateman, per Harbaugh, is close to returning. The Ravens were connected to a receiver addition this offseason, after they traded Marquise Brown. But they resisted. Brown’s exit still leaves the door ajar for a true deep threat to sign on, so it will be interesting to see if Jackson ends up doing so.

Devin Duvernay has become Baltimore’s No. 2 wideout — in a still-Mark Andrews-fronted aerial attack — but not much in the way of proven targets are present outside of the Bateman-Duvernay duo. And Duvernay is more known for his return work early in his career. Bateman and Duvernay have totaled 243 and 240 receiving yards, respectively. No other Baltimore receiver has tallied more than 76 yards this season.

WR DeSean Jackson Considering Retirement

April 21st, 2022 at 10:31pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s been quiet on the DeSean Jackson front this offseason, and the veteran wideout may be considering retirement. During an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Ashley Nicole Moss, Jackson admitted that he might hang up his cleats.

“I’m not really sure if I’m going to play next year or not,” Jackson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I know I announced and said I was going to play. It’s just really at this point where I’m at in my life, it’s gotta be the right fit.”

Jackson was also asked what would qualify as “the right fit,: with the receiver noting that any suitor would need to feature a “great quarterback.” Jackson even mentioned a potential reunion with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who coached Jackson when the two were in Philly.

“Chiefs may be one,” said Jackson. “The Browns. Russell Wilson in Denver. Green Bay … we’ll see for sure.”

The three-time Pro Bowler joined the Rams last offseason. However, after hauling in only eight catches in seven games, Jackson asked for and was granted his release. He later caught on with the Raiders, and while his receptions-per-game average slightly increased, he still put up similar yardage per game. He ultimately saw time in nine games (four starts) for Las Vegas, hauling in 12 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown. He also had a single 26-yard reception in the postseason.

Extra Points: Packers, Cook, OBJ

November 9th, 2021 at 10:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The NFL has finished their investigation into the Packers handling of COVID-19 protocols. The organization has been slapped with a $300K fine “for violations of the NFL and NFL Players Association protocols,” per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wideout Allen Lazard were also fined $14,650.

Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter), the two players were fined for attending a maskless Halloween party. The Packers’ organizational fine also stemmed from the party; while the gathering wasn’t organized by the team, the NFL believes the organization should have penalized each player. Otherwise, the NFL determined that the Packers complied to all protocols, with Garafolo noting that there was “no widespread or systemic mask-wearing violations.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Packers organization was notified that “future violations could result in escalated discipline,” including the potential loss of draft picks.

The league looked at footage taken at the team’s facility to assure that masks were being worn and protocols were being followed. The NFL also interviewed Packers personnel as part of the process.

More notes from around the NFL:bay

A woman filed a lawsuit accusing Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook of assault, battery and false imprisonment, per Schefter. Cook’s attorney said his client was the victim in the incident, adding that the woman also tried to extort millions of dollars from the player. According to the lawsuit, the woman traveled to Minnesota to break up with Cook, and the meeting soon turned violent. Cook is accused of causing a concussion and leaving a scar on the woman’s face. Cook’s side says the woman stole Cook’s garage door opener, broke into the player’s house, and maced him upon entering. Both the Vikings and the NFL acknowledged that they were aware of the lawsuit.
New Raiders wideout DeSean Jackson will receive $1MM for the rest of the season, according to Garafolo (via Twitter). If Jackson decides to file for termination pay, he’ll end up earning more than he would have by sticking around Los Angeles. Meanwhile, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia told reporters that he’s excited to see what Jackson can bring to the squad. “I think we all have a lot of respect for his career and what he’s done, and I can remember him coming out,” Bisaccia said (h/t to Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, we are excited about getting another speed element out there to be a complement to what we are trying to do on offense, certainly with the speed that Zay [Jones] has and what Bryan [Edwards] and Hunter [Renfrow] bring to us. It will be good for us to get another speed element going on offense. We are excited about getting him to practice.”
Sam Darnold suffered a fractured scapula, and the Panthers QB will “most likely” miss several weeks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Darnold had one of his worst outings of the season on Sunday against the Patriots, completing only 48 percent of his passes while tossing three interceptions. P.J. Walker will likely get the starting nod with Darnold out of the lineup, although the team did add Matt Barkley earlier today.
Odell Beckham Jr. cleared waivers today, and the Browns will only be on the hook for $4.25MM, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The two sides’ decision to rework the player’s contract ultimately saved the team around $3MM. Meanwhile, Garafolo notes that Beckham is considering both one-year deals and multi-year pacts.

Raiders To Sign DeSean Jackson

November 7th, 2021 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

DeSean Jackson has agreed to sign with the Raiders (Twitter link via Josina Anderson of ESPN.com). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but he’ll earn more than the veteran’s minimum, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link).

Jackson, dropped by the Rams last week, reportedly drew interest from seven teams. The Raiders were aggressive from the jump, aiming to sign the 34-year-old in the wake of Henry Ruggs‘ release. They got the deal done on Sunday afternoon, providing quarterback Derek Carr with the deep threat he needs.

Plenty of teams wanted Jackson, though no GM was willing to pay the remainder of his $2.75MM base salary. The Raiders got him for less than half of that price and they’ll probably target him a whole lot more than the Rams did. Jackson only played on ~1/3rd of the Rams snaps and didn’t top 25 snaps in any single game. To date, he has just eight catches in 2021. But, in classic DJax fashion, he’s made the most of them with 221 yards and one touchdown.

The Raiders are down to 5-3 after today’s loss to the Giants. Jackson will try and get them back in the win column next Sunday when they host the Chiefs in Las Vegas.

Raiders Still In Play For Odell Beckham; OBJ Prefers Seahawks?

November 7th, 2021 at 9:46am CST by Rory Parks

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be available to be claimed on waivers tomorrow. By Tuesday at 4pm ET, we will know whether a team has claimed him or if he will be a free agent.

Because a claiming team would be on the hook for $7.25MM — a sum that most clubs can’t fit onto their books at this point in the season — multiple execs tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that OBJ will likely go unclaimed. And if that happens, Schefter confirms that Beckham wants to sign with a contender.

If a non-contender should claim the enigmatic wideout — the 1-6 Jaguars and 2-6 Washington Football Team are two outfits that currently possess the cap space to add Beckham without dropping or restructuring another player — Schefter hears that there will be “issues.” He does not specify what those issues might be, but it presumably means OBJ would consider sitting out (though since he is now eligible for free agency after the season, it would seem that Beckham would want to produce as much good tape as possible and to prove that he is not a distraction, regardless of who he plays for).

Interestingly, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has heard that Beckham prefers the Seahawks of the three teams — the Saints, 49ers, and Seahawks — that have been definitively linked to him. The 3-5 ‘Hawks have the worst record of those clubs, but they also have easily the best QB situation once Russell Wilson returns to the field. Obviously, any team that acquires Beckham would have exclusive negotiating rights with him until free agency opens in March, so perhaps he views Seattle as the best long-term fit despite the current sub-.500 record.

Florio says that the Raiders are also still in play. After parting ways with Henry Ruggs, Las Vegas has been connected to Beckham but reportedly prefers DeSean Jackson, who is already a free agent and whose abilities as a speed merchant may be a better replacement for Ruggs’ skill-set.

However, according to Florio, the Raiders are waiting to see what happens with Beckham before deciding how to proceed with Jackson. That suggests that Vegas is preparing to either submit a waiver claim — the club would need to create cap room to do so — or to make a push to sign Beckham if he clears waivers. The 5-2 Raiders are in first place in the AFC West and have a good QB in Derek Carr, so they would seem to meet Beckham’s criteria.

DeSean Jackson On Raiders’ Radar

November 6th, 2021 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Interest has emerged for DeSean Jackson, who is taking virtual meetings. Roughly seven teams have shown interest, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link). One of those appears to be the Raiders.

The Raiders went through a Zoom meeting with the free agent wide receiver Saturday, veteran NFL reporter Michael Silver tweets. Given Las Vegas’ current situation, it is certainly not surprising the team is considering Jackson.

Jettisoned by the Rams this week, after they could not find a trade partner, Jackson cleared waivers. The 34-year-old deep threat wants to land with a contender, Garafolo adds. Other likely playoff teams are among those interested, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio tweets. Retirement is not on Jackson’s radar. The 14th-year veteran and his agent are set to go through phone calls and Zoom meetings over the next few days.

Odell Beckham Jr. has emerged as part of the Jackson equation, with Garafolo adding the teams interested in Jackson will likely be in the mix for Beckham — should the soon-to-be ex-Cleveland Brown clear waivers. The Raiders appear to prefer Jackson to Beckham, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur (on Twitter). While OBJ’s potential free agency run could delay Jackson’s process, he should land elsewhere soon.

Although Jackson saw Van Jefferson eat into his role in L.A., he has stayed healthy for a change and showed the speed that made him one of this era’s best deep targets remains. Buoyed by a three-catch, 120-yard day against the Buccaneers, Jackson has averaged 27.6 yards per catch — albeit on just eight grabs — this season.

Following the tragic car accident that left a woman dead, the Raiders cut ties with Henry Ruggs, who has been charged with multiple felonies and faces decades in prison. Ruggs was the Raiders’ leading receiver, having caught 24 passes for 469 yards and two touchdowns this year.

WR DeSean Jackson Clears Waivers

November 4th, 2021 at 5:26pm CST by Ben Levine

DeSean Jackson is officially a free man. The veteran wideout cleared waivers today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Jackson is now free to sign with any team.

The Rams were unable to find a taker for Jackson prior to the trade deadline, so the team made the expected move and cut the player on Tuesday. The lack of trade (and waiver) interest doesn’t necessarily mean Jackson won’t have any suitors; rather, teams were anticipating his release and were willing to take their chances in free agency.

Since Jackson went unclaimed, the Rams will be left with the balance of Jackson’s $2.75MM base salary on the books. The receiver joined the Rams on a one-year, $4.5MM deal this past offseason.

However, the 34-year-old struggled to carve out a definitive role during his short stint in Los Angeles, seeing the field for about one-third of L.A.’s snaps. Jackson didn’t top 25 snaps in any of his games this year, and his playtime continued to dwindle, leading to a four-snap appearance against the Lions in Week 7. After that, the Rams held him out of action against the Texans to avoid a trade-scuttling injury.

Even at the age of 34, Jackson has torched the opposition for 27.6 yards per catch (albeit on only eight receptions), so a receiver-needy team will certainly appreciate his big-play ability. For his career, Jackson has 620 catches for 10,877 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Rams To Cut WR DeSean Jackson

November 2nd, 2021 at 3:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams will release DeSean Jackson this week (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). This was the expected move after the Rams were unable to find a trade for the veteran wide receiver. As a post-deadline drop, Jackson will be subject to the waiver wire for 24 hours after his release. If no one claims him, he’ll be free to sign with any club.

While Jackson drew interest on the market, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore (on Twitter), teams were anticipating a release and did not want to surrender any assets. That is somewhat interesting given Jackson’s post-deadline departure, which will not allow him to control his destination — at least, not initially.

Jackson joined the Rams on a one-year, $4.5MM deal this year with the expectation that he’d be a focal point of the offense. Instead, he’s only been on the field for about one-third of L.A.’s snaps. That didn’t sit well with Jackson, who requested a change of scenery earlier this month.

If DJax goes unclaimed, the Rams will be left with the balance of Jackson’s $2.75MM base salary on the books. Either way, they’ll be without one of the game’s most prolific deep threats. Even at the age of 34, Jackson has torched the opposition for 27.6 yards per catch. Granted, the sample size is limited with just eight receptions, but there’s no question that DJax still has top-end speed.

Jackson has yet to top 25 snaps in any of his games this year. His playtime only dwindled from there, with four snaps against the Lions in Week 7. After that, the Rams held him out of action against the Texans to avoid a trade-scuttling injury.

For his career, Jackson has 620 catches for 10,877 yards and 57 touchdowns. Now, after parting ways with his fourth pro team, he’ll look to add to those totals elsewhere.

Latest On Rams WR DeSean Jackson

November 1st, 2021 at 8:27pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like DeSean Jackson‘s stint in Los Angeles has come to an end, even if the Rams are unable to find a taker via trade. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that if Jackson isn’t traded, it’s expected that the veteran wideout will be released (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter).

Jackson inked a one-year, $4.5MM deal with the Rams this past offseason. That deal included a $2.75MM base salary, and a release would mean the Rams would be left with a prorated part of that guarantee on their cap sheet.

The 34-year-old didn’t see more than 32 percent of his team’s offensive snaps through the first seven weeks of the season, culminating in only four offensive snaps during his team’s Week 7 win. The Rams recently gave Jackson permission to seek a trade elsewhere, and he was inactive during yesterday’s win over the Texans.

Jackson was limited to only eight games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and he’s hauled in only eight catches this year. However, considering the veteran’s track record, there’s a good chance Jackson will find a landing spot. However, it remains to be seen if a suitor will be willing to give up any assets to the Rams before tomorrow’s deadline.

Rams Shopping DeSean Jackson

October 29th, 2021 at 2:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams and DeSean Jackson have mutually agreed to seek a trade, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). The wide receiver should hold appeal to other teams, but they’ll only have a few days to complete a deal.

Any team trading for Jackson will be responsible for the balance of his one-year, $4.5MM deal. The Rams could cover part of the tab, however, and potentially increase their haul.

Jackson, 34, has averaged 27.6 yards per catch through seven games this year. Of course, that also comes in a limited sample size — 8 catches for 221 yards. Much of that production came in Week 3 against the Buccaneers when he notched three receptions for 120 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown.

Rams head coach Sean McVay has confirmed the report, saying that the team will try and find “opportunities he’s deserving of” elsewhere (Twitter link via Garafolo). In the meantime, Jackson will not suit up for Sunday’s game against the Texans.

Barring a return to one of his old employers, Jackson will move on to the fifth team of his pro career. The three-time Pro Bowler led the league in 2018 with 18.9 yards per reception and could still be a serious deep threat, despite his age.