Eagles pull plug on experimental tight end

Philadelphia Eagles QB Gardner Minshew celebrates a touchdown with Tyree Jackson Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles pull the plug on experimental tight end

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 8/26/23

Philadelphia has released Tyree Jackson. The 25-year-old had three catches for 22 yards in nine games as an Eagle. Not great numbers for a tight end, but pretty good for a quarterback.

After an appearance in the Dollar General Bowl and being named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year as the Buffalo Bulls’ quarterback, Jackson joined the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

Jackson led the Bills to a comeback victory against the Minnesota Vikings in his only preseason start that year before being released at the end of training camp. A few months later he was drafted by the DC Defenders of the XFL, where he went 11-18 for 46 yards and a touchdown only for the league shut down due to COVID-19.

According to his Eagles bio, Jackson realized he would need to change positions if he hoped to play in the NFL and enlisted former University of Buffalo star Naaman Roosevelt to teach him how to run routes.

Update: The #Eagles released two TEs, including former #Bills QB-turned-TE Tyree Jackson, per @tompelissero

Jackson is 6'7, 249 pounds and runs 4.59. Another team might take a chance on him.

Veteran Dan Arnold was the other TE released. pic.twitter.com/T05ufTFdoa
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 26, 2023

At 6-foot-7 and 249 pounds, Jackson figured a move to tight end would be best and in 2021, Philadelphia signed him to a reserve/futures contract. He played well in his first training camp and it didn’t take long for Eagles fans to imagine him playing in two tight end sets opposite Dallas Goedert.

But a fractured bone in his back ended his preseason in August and he wouldn’t see the field until November. He caught his first touchdown pass during the team’s final regular-season game against the Cowboys before tearing his ACL.

There was hope that this upcoming campaign would serve as Jackson’s breakout season, but the team seems content to start 2023 with tight ends Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra behind Goedert. The Eagles also released former Jaguars tight end Dan Arnold.

Arnold will likely catch on with another team, but Jackson could have trouble finding a roster spot. Three catches and a touchdown isn’t much of a resume, though given his quarterback background, some team could look to make him the next Taysom Hill.

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