DeSean Jackson rose to stardom as a punt-returner. Now back with the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran wide receiver is in line to remind the football world why he was once considered one of the most dangerous return men in league history. According to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Jackson is “the guy in focus” of special teams coach Dave Fipp to be the Eagles' primary punt returner.
Eagles special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said DeSean Jackson is a top candidate to return punts. Need to figure out his offensive playing time and whole depth chart, but Jackson is the guy in focus right now.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) June 10, 2019
Jackson, a first-round pick of the Eagles in 2008 NFL Draft, made his first Pro Bowl one year later as a punt returner. He averaged a whopping 15.2 yards per punt return as a sophomore, taking two back for touchdowns. The University of California Berkeley product then became the first player in league history to make the Pro Bowl at two positions, being selected for the 2009 game as both a returner and wide receiver. The most notable punt return of Jackson's career came in 2010, when he went 65 yards for a game-winning touchdown against the New York Giants as time expired.
The diminutive 5-foot-10 wide receiver hasn't been a full-time punt returner since his rookie season, and last notched more than five returns in 2013. He didn't return any punts in 2016 and 2017 before garnering five attempts last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jackson, an 11-year veteran, was acquired by the Eagles in March in exchange for a sixth-round pick. He subsequently signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Eagles, a boon for an aging player whose existing contract was set to expire after this season.
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