Not long ago, an ominous start to his time in midnight green suggested veteran free agent addition Adoree' Jackson's tenure in Philadelphia might prove be short-lived and mired in disappointment.
Much maligned by talking heads and fans alike amid such a rocky start - including a Week 1 effort against the Dallas Cowboys in which he surrendered five catches for 103 yards - Jackson saw his snap counts diminish in the early stages of the season, as teammates Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett vied to seize control of the starting corner spot opposite star Quinyon Mitchell.
While the odds seemed stacked against him, Jackson quietly continued to put in the work despite the critics. And recent performances have proven the eight-year vet has plenty left in the tank to offer for an Eagles defense that continues to churn out strong performances down the regular season home stretch.
Jackson has completely turned things around in a monstrous way
In the past two weeks, Jackson has notched one interception and 1 PBU, allowing zero touchdowns on a modest five catches for 44 yards on10 targets. And since that woeful week one debut, with a few blips including the road defeat to the Giants, he has settled in quite well, limiting all opposing wideouts he's matched up with to 69 yards or less on the season.
Working opposite Quinyon Mitchell - who mans the shorter side (boundary) of the field - has proven to be a solid spot for Jackson, with the slightly longer throws in his direction allowing the cagey vet to showcase both his awareness and athleticism in keeping opposing wideouts in check. Safety help has been on point over the top as well.
And of course, since the arrival of Jaelan Phillips and the return of both Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham to the lineup, the edge group has fast become one of the strongest leaguewide. The slight scheme change, coupled with a sudden influx of edge talent, has undoubtedly helped the secondary, but that's always been the case in football. Front sevens and secondaries feed off one another, and at this juncture, both are feasting in Philadelphia.
While navigating the customary highs and lows of the regular season, Jackson and his teammates have remained resolute in improving each time they take to the gridiron.
“It’s a team that doesn’t get too high or too low at any moment, but remains steadfast on the main goal," said Jackson via nj.com. "Here, it’s about always competing and getting better.”
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It's been a praiseworthy rebound for Jackson following a rough debut. In a league that's seen droves of talented players benched to never return to the spotlight, Jackson could have folded. Instead, he's shown his unwavering resiliency in becoming a key member of a dangerous Eagles defense.