DeSean Jackson's so talented that he doesn't settle for doing just one job. After putting up his third 100-yard receiving game of the season, Jackson put on his reporter's hat in the locker room following the Eagles' 26-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts and pulled out an interesting story angle.
"Last year when I had my concussion, I came back against the (New York) Giants and had a big game," Jackson said, referring to December 13 of last season, when he put up 178 receiving yards and two total touchdowns after a one-game absence because of a concussion. "I came back this game versus ... Eli Manning's brother and had another great game too."
It's tough to argue with the Pro Bowl receiver and return man. After suffering a concussion following a scary hit by Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson in the Week 5 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Jackson returned to the field Sunday for the first time in 21 days and put up 109 yards receiving on seven catches and 20 yards rushing.
"I'm just fortunate and blessed that I was able to come back and play after sustaining an injury like that with the head," Jackson said. "People were saying, 'Oh, can he go out there and still play without that being in the back of his mind?' The biggest thing I'll say is that I leave it up to God. I give my glory to him and I'm blessed to be able to go out there and still play and do the right things I need to do to help my team win games."
Jackson's contributions started early, when he put the Eagles up 7-0 with a 9-yard touchdown catch less than two minutes into the game. Jackson and quarterback Michael Vick, also making his return from injury, were on the same page all day long, with the most impressive play coming on a 3rd-and-7 in the first quarter from the Eagles' 4-yard-line when Vick lofted a beautiful long pass that hit Jackson in stride as he split two defenders for a 58-yard gain.
"He kept us in a couple of drives, made some big throws," Jackson said of Vick. "When we were backed up on our own goal line, he threw that ball out to me right on stride, man. That's (an) unbelievable ball. So I'm just very fortunate to be able to play with that guy."
Jackson admitted that because it was his first game action in three weeks, there were times where he was fatigued and had to take himself out of the game for a play or two.
"It's just going to take getting back and playing football speed," he said. "The game is so fast and the game that we play in practice can only get you so prepared. I'm just happy to go out there and still be able to run freely."
So if this was Jackson at less than 100 percent, what can the Eagles expect from their 5-10 dynamo moving forward? With 504 yards receiving on the season (19.4 yards per catch), Jackson is on pace for his second straight 1,000 yard season. But while Jackson plays with an obvious love for the game, he's also totally focused on the business at hand.
"Honestly, we knew how important this game was for us to win," he said. "I think we did everything we (could) to keep ourselves into the game to give ourselves a chance to win it, especially with that guy Peyton Manning.
"The next game on our schedule is the Redskins and they beat us last, so we have a little grudge on our shoulder against them. We'll go out there and ready to get a win."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 9:33 p.m., November 7
