The Washington Commanders haven’t had much to celebrate this season, but Week 16 brings something they’ve been waiting on for a long time. Defensive end Drake Jackson is expected to play for the first time since 2023.
Jackson hasn’t appeared in a game in nearly two years after suffering a serious knee injury while with the San Francisco 49ers. Now 24, he’s finally healthy enough to retake the field, and Washington will get its first honest look at him in live action.
Commanders Will Finally See Drake Jackson Play Again
According to The Washington Post’s Tashan Reed, Jackson is set to make his season debut Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Commanders DE Drake Jackson will make his season debut on Saturday,” Reed wrote. “He hasn’t played since 2023 due to a knee injury.”
Jackson entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2022 draft after a strong college career at USC. He wasn’t a starter in San Francisco, but he flashed potential as a pass rusher. In 23 games with the 49ers, he recorded six sacks and showed the kind of speed and burst that made him a high draft pick.
That progress stopped in 2023 when he tore his patellar tendon. The injury wiped out the rest of that season and all of 2024. San Francisco eventually moved on, waiving Jackson during the 2025 offseason.
Washington signed him to a one-year deal and took a patient approach, keeping him on injured reserve while he worked his way back. In November, the team opened his practice window, which was the first sign that a return was realistic.
Washington’s Injury Report Shows Just How Thin the Roster Is
Jackson’s return comes at a time when Washington is running out of healthy bodies.
The Commanders ruled four players out for Saturday’s game, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The team has shut Daniels down for the rest of the season with three games left, and Marcus Mariota will take over under center.
Tunsil attempted to practice on Wednesday but left early and didn’t participate on Thursday. With him sidelined, Washington is expected to start Brandon Coleman at left tackle. Coleman started 12 games as a rookie in 2024 but has spent most of this season as a backup. Against Philadelphia’s pass rush, both Coleman and rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. could be tested early.
Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is also out. He usually plays behind Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw, but his absence further weakens a run defense that has already struggled. Tight end Colson Yankoff was ruled out as well, leaving Washington with just two healthy tight ends: Ben Sinnott and John Bates.
Two players are listed as questionable. Cornerback Jonathan Jones practiced earlier in the week but missed Thursday with a rib injury. If he can’t go, Washington will be down to a third-string option in the secondary. Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton was added late to the report with an illness but is expected to play.
The bigger issue is how long the injured list has become. Several regular contributors remain on injured reserve, including tight end Zach Ertz, running back Austin Ekeler, wide receiver Noah Brown, and defensive linemen Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise Jr. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos are also unavailable.
The Commanders host the Eagles at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 20.
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