The Eagles activated tight end Tyree Jackson from the Injured Reserve list ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is set to make his NFL debut on his 24th birthday.
Originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as a rookie free agent quarterback out of the University of Buffalo in 2019, Jackson spent the preseason with the Bills before being released. He tried his hand at quarterback in the XFL before signing a reserve/futures contract with the Eagles in 2021 and making the transition to tight end.
The 6-foot-7, 249-pound Jackson was the surprise of Training Camp, using that massive frame to become a reliable target in the passing game.
"If he's going to look like he did during Training Camp, that's going to be a player for us. But he's got to show it in games," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said last month about Jackson. "And this is an opportunity for him to come back and for us to see that. We don't think that's just a shot in the dark. We think this guy's got some traits."
Jackson suffered a back injury late in Training Camp that landed him on Injured Reserve.
The Eagles also elevated wide receiver John Hightower and running back Jordan Howard from the practice squad for Sunday's game. They will both revert back to the practice squad on Monday.
Hightower has been on the practice squad for the first eight weeks of the season. The Eagles have a need at wide receiver with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside out with an ankle injury. Hightower played in 13 games as a rookie and caught 10 passes for 167 yards, including a 59-yarder.
"He just got really good skill, he's got great speed, he's got good ability off the line of scrimmage. Again, he's fast," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said of Hightower on Friday. "I think there's a movie out there – I think it's Friday Night Lights where they're asking the guy from Odessa, Texas, about who are they playing, Dallas Carter, and he says like three things, but he starts, 'They're fast,' – he says three other things. And he says they're fast again.
"That's my analogy. John's fast. That's why I kind of said it like that. But he's got some unique talents and we're sure glad we have him."
Howard made his 2021 season debut last week in Detroit with Miles Sanders on Injured Reserve and rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns. In fact, Howard and Boston Scott became the first Eagles duo to both have multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game since 1980.
