DeSean Jackson breaks finger at Eagles practice; should be OK for opener
The receiver broke his left ring finger during practice Tuesday, but he should be ready by the season opener.
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DeSean Jackson broke his left ring finger at practice Tuesday, but the Eagles wide receiver said he should be able to play when the season opens Sept. 8.
Jackson was in visible discomfort as he sat in his locker stall after practice. He had a brace on the finger when he left the NovaCare Complex later. Asked if he would be ready in 12 days when the Eagles host the Redskins, Jackson indicated that he would play through the injury.
The Eagles declined to comment. The expectation from the team is that Jackson will be fine enough to play in Week 1, NFL sources said. He is scheduled to see a hand specialist Wednesday, however, a source said. Jackson is right-handed, and a fracture isn’t typically considered as serious a finger injury as having torn ligaments.
The 32-year-old receiver had been healthy throughout training camp this summer. Jackson didn’t play in the first two preseason games, as Doug Pederson rested most of his starters, but was on the field for seven snaps in the third preseason game against the Ravens on Thursday night. He didn’t catch a pass.
Like most starters, Jackson is unlikely to play in the preseason finale at the New York Jets on Thursday night.
He missed 14 games during his previous five seasons with Washington and Tampa Bay to various injuries. He’s played in all 16 games in a season only twice over his 11 seasons. If the speedy wideout has lost a step, it hasn’t been visible to the naked eye during the last several months.
Pederson was recently asked for any changes he’s seen from Jackson since his first tenure with the Eagles.
“I think in his past he would pull himself out of practice from time to time or whatever it might be, but he doesn’t do that. He wants to practice,” Pederson said Sunday. "And he wants to be with his guys. And that’s something, I think, that comes with maturity and with experience, and of course being on a new football team causes him to want to be that way.
“He’s been professional about it his whole time here.”