The Philadelphia Eagles are wasting no time shaking things up after their narrow 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. With the season barely underway, the team has already made bold moves, signing three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith and adding former New England Patriots receiver Javon Baker to the practice squad. Meanwhile, rookie Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Kenyon Green were shown the door. But according to NJ.com’s Cayden Steele, the Eagles’ roster overhaul shouldn’t stop there. Steele is calling for the immediate release of nine-year NFL veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, whose lackluster performance in the opener has raised red flags.
Jackson, who earned the starting cornerback role opposite Quinyon Mitchell after a competitive offseason, struggled mightily against Dallas. The 29-year-old, once a reliable starter for the New York Giants, appeared to have lost a step. Targeted seven times, Jackson surrendered five receptions for a whopping 103 yards, including a 32-yard catch by Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb on the opening drive that set up a 1-yard touchdown by running back Javonte Williams. Lamb repeatedly outmaneuvered Jackson, leaving the veteran cornerback scrambling to keep up.
It wasn’t just in coverage where Jackson faltered. During a critical moment in the third quarter, Cowboys running back Miles Sanders broke free for a 49-yard run, with Jackson losing contain and falling flat on the play. “Getting a C-minus on a report card is not something to be proud of,” Steele remarked, referencing Jackson’s own assessment of his performance. “And even that might be too generous.”
The Eagles’ aggressive approach to roster management is well-documented, and Steele argues that keeping Jackson in the starting lineup could spell disaster for Philadelphia’s secondary. With a daunting Week 2 matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs looming, the Eagles can ill afford to leave a vulnerable cornerback exposed. “Over the next 16 weeks, opposing quarterbacks could pick apart Philadelphia’s secondary by targeting Jackson,” Steele warned. “Starting him against Mahomes would be a mistake.”
Jackson’s signing this offseason came after the Eagles parted ways with longtime stalwart Darius Slay, a move that raised eyebrows. The hope was that Jackson could fill the void and bring veteran savvy to a revamped secondary. However, his Week 1 performance has cast serious doubt on his ability to handle elite receivers, and the Eagles’ coaching staff may be forced to reconsider their options.
The Eagles are known for their relentless pursuit of improvement, and their recent roster moves signal they’re not afraid to make tough calls. While Jackson earned the starting job, his underwhelming debut suggests he may not be the answer for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Cutting ties with a veteran of Jackson’s caliber after just one game might seem hasty, but Philadelphia’s front office has never shied away from bold decisions.
As the Eagles prepare to face one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses in Week 2, the pressure is on to shore up the secondary. Will they stick with Jackson and hope for a turnaround, or will they pull the trigger on another roster shakeup? One thing is clear: in Philadelphia, no one’s job is safe when the team’s championship dreams are on the line.