Jackson’s return turns into cameo appearance
PHILADELPHIA >> If you missed the Eagles’ first series Sunday, you missed DeSean Jackson’s heralded comeback from the abdominal injury.
The 32-year-old veteran left the field for an examination in the first half and didn’t play the rest of the afternoon.
Jackson didn’t exactly look like his old self in the warmups or in the game. He aggravated the abdominal injury, which already was painful, and it’s unclear how extensive the damage was, per a source.
“Well, the plan was to play him, obviously, so we’ll have some more testing done in the morning,” head coach Doug Pederson said. “I’ll probably have a better update on him tomorrow but the plan was to play him.”
Jackson wasn’t immediately available for comment. He participated in less than a handful of plays, catching a five-yard pass and on the first Eagles’ play from scrimmage, drawing an interference penalty on Kyle Fuller.
The Eagles hoped they could get up to 20 plays from Jackson.
“We want DeSean Jackson out there each and every play,” tight end Zach Ertz said. “So, we’re praying for him and praying that he gets back healthy as fast as he can.”
•• • Carson Wentz extended his streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass to
12 consecutive games. That keeps him tied with Russell Wilson for the longest active streak in the NFL.
••• Darren Sproles returned to action returning punts, the Eagles a bit concerned over their turnovers on special teams. They entered the contest with a leagueleading three fumbles in the return game, two by Corey Clement and one last week by Boston Scott.
Scott was whistled for running into the kicker attempting to block Pat O’Donnell’s 48-yard punt in the first quarter.
••• Brandon Graham’s six sacks have come in the last five games. It’s the most in such a stretch since Fletcher
Cox notched 6.5 sacks in December of last season.
Josh Sweat also registered a sack Sunday for the Eagles while newcomer Genard Avery and Malcolm Jenkins split a sack of Mitch Trubisky.
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The Eagles scratched cornerback Sidney Jones, who they took off the board with the 10th pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft despite a torn Achilles’ tendon.
They swore then that they got a first-round talent in Jones. In retrospect, they had their choice of a ton of playmakers, including Alvin Kamara, Joe Mixon, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chris Godwin … and the list goes on.
The Eagles chose cornerback Rasul Douglas in the second round of that lottery and they acquired defensive end Daeshon Hall, who they also scratched Sunday.
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NOTES >> The Eagles registered their second shutout of a team in the first half this season, the other victim being the Jets. The Birds have allowed just 15.6 points per game this season. … The Bears fumbled away a kickoff. They’re 1228 (.300) committing one or more turnovers over the past three seasons. … The Eagles are 22-2 (.917) when having the lead at the end of the first quarter since the start of Pederson’s first season as coach. They’re 12-1
(.923) playing turnover-free in that time.