As NFL fans eagerly await the future of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the San Francisco 49ers, the team has received unfortunate news regarding defensive end Drake Jackson. He has been ruled out for the entire 2024 season.
Also see: Falcons WR Out for the Season Due to Knee Injury
The 49ers have placed DE Drake Jackson on reserve/PUP, meaning he is now out for the 2024 season.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 8, 2024
Field Yates, a respected NFL insider, confirmed that Jackson’s placement on the Reserve/PUP list means he will miss the entire 2024 season. This move was made to accommodate safety Tracy Walker, whom the team recently signed.
Just a week ago, head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Jackson would not return to training camp due to a knee issue, which has now proven to be serious enough to sideline him for the year.
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Initially, Jackson began training camp on the Active/PUP list following surgery on his patellar tendon. His recovery has evidently not progressed as hoped, forcing the organization to prioritize Walker’s addition.
During his college career at USC, Jackson demonstrated his prowess on the field, amassing 103 tackles, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles over three seasons. This performance earned him a second-round draft pick by the 49ers (No. 61 overall) in 2022.
As a rookie, he made a strong impression with 14 tackles, three sacks, and an interception in 15 games. His solid performance continued into the 2023 season; however, injuries limited him to just eight games, leading to his placement on injured reserve.
Jackson was starting to establish himself as a key player on the Niners’ defensive line alongside stars like Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd. The team’s hope was that Jackson would enhance their pass rush in 2024, but now he will aim for a comeback in 2025.
The silver lining here is that this time off could allow Jackson to fully recover and return even stronger for the next season.