Will Jackson Be Ready For A Larger Role?
Which DeSean Jackson will show up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018? Last season, the Bucs thought they were getting the player who had five previous seasons of 1,000+ yards and one of the NFL leaders in YPC for three years. However, Jackson had a rough outing while registering just 50 receptions and 668 yards in 2017. A dip in production was foreseen as he had to share the field with Mike Evans. But Jackson just didn’t appear to be comfortable with Winston.
With Winston lost for the first four games of the 2018 season, Jackson will need to step up. If Evans is doubled on the other side, Ryan Fitzpatrick may look for Jackson more. In 2017, Jackson averaged a career-low 13.4 YPC. There were reports that he may have lost a step at the age of 31 but Jackson, in the open field is still one of the most dangerous players in the game.
If the running game can get moving, that will help Jackson on the outside. With defenders forced to bring up an extra defender for the run, that will leave Jackson one-on-one with a DB.
This season could possibly be the end of the marriage between Jackson and the Bucs. There is a potential out for both at the end of this year and if things go wrong, Jackson could be looking for a new home. He now has more incentive to play like he did before coming to Tampa.
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