DeSean Jackson is OK with going from the Eagles’ primary punt returner to a part-time punt returner. But he would not be OK with becoming a no-time punt returner.
Jackson said on NFL AM that he told coach Andy Reid to remember him when the Eagles need a big return.
“I play wide receiver, don’t get me wrong,” Jackson said. “I have to be focused on wide receiver. But as far as punt return, I told coach Reid he can’t take me off of that. I might not be starting throughout the whole game, but here and there at spot times when they need me to go in there and spark the team up and make a big return, that’s what I’m going to do. But we have to game plan for all of the other teams; there are 31 other teams so we can’t just let them know what we’re going to do.”
Jackson has plenty of speed and the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands on punt returns, but he averaged a career-low 6.7 yards a return and failed to score a touchdown last season. So if Jackson wants to continue being a punt returner, he’ll need to perform better than he did last year when Reid does give him a chance.
