There weren't many bright spots for the Washington Commanders as Dan Quinn's squad suffered a last-gasp, demoralizing defeat on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears. Not many met expectations, especially on defense, and one costly error at the end provided the NFC North club with an opening they weren't going to waste.
Everyone was rightfully despondent after the clash. The Commanders have to dust themselves off, get ready to right this wrong, and move forward with the same resolve that got this once-downtrodden franchise to the NFC Championship game in Year 1 under Quinn's guidance.
This was a wake-up call about the hard work ahead and the additional effort required if the Commanders are to meet the raised expectations this season. Adam Peters isn't one to sit on his hands, which was further evidenced by another transaction in the immediate aftermath of Washington's primetime loss.
After watching the Commanders' defensive front crumble against the Bears, the front-office leader took drastic action. According to Adam Schefter from ESPN, Washington is signing Drake Jackson to their active roster.
Jackson visited the Commanders earlier this month without an agreement in place. The once-promising draft prospect out of USC also met with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens after some frustrating injury problems were resolved. Now, he's linked up with Peters once again.
Washington's general manager held an influential position in the San Francisco 49ers' front office when the NFC West club spent a second-round pick on Jackson in 2022. He looked like a promising lineman, displaying explosiveness in pass-rushing situations and emerging as a stout force against the run. Unfortunately, health complications brought his momentum to an abrupt halt.
Jackson missed half of the 2023 season and all of 2024 with a torn patellar tendon in his knee that required reconstructive surgery. It was a long, grueling rehabilitation process for the player, and the Niners didn't have the patience to wait around. They released him upon receiving medical clearance to resume football activities. And now, the Commanders are giving him a lifeline.
Expecting miracles from Jackson immediately is unfair and unrealistic. He's missed a lot of football. A significant adjustment period will be needed to get the player up to speed. And there's just no telling how much the injury has diminished his athletic attributes until he gets thrown into the fire.
It probably hasn't cost the Commanders much to find out one way or another. But this is the clearest sign yet that Peters and others are far from satisfied with the way things are unfolding.
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