The Eagles are moving on from DeSean Jackson.
In a two-sentence, 25-word press release, the club announced Friday it had released Jackson, a Pro Bowl wideout who led Philadelphia in receiving a season ago.
“After careful consideration over this offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to part ways with DeSean Jackson,” the club said Friday. “The team informed him of his release today.”
The move — easily one of the biggest headline-makers of the NFL offseason — comes after weeks of trade rumors and public discussion of Jackson’s future with the Eagles.
On the field, the 27-year-old Jackson is one of the league’s most dynamic receivers. He set career-highs in catches (82) and yards (1,332) in 2013, his first year in coach Chip Kelly’s offense. A three-time Pro Bowler, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Jackson has gained 17.2 yards per catch in his NFL career.
However, speculation the Eagles were looking to move on from Jackson has bubbled all offseason, with the organization doing little to suggest they were not weighing their options.
Now, Jackson is out in Philadelphia, and on the same day that a published report from NJ.com claimed the club was troubled by his off-field habits. The NJ.com report alleged that Jackson’s relationship with gang members was one of the issues that bothered the Eagles’ organization.
The focus now turns to the market for Jackson, who has the sort of field-stretching speed all teams covet. With Jackson’s availability seemingly no secret to anyone in recent weeks, it will be interesting to see if any teams, perhaps having readied for this moment, quickly jump into the fray.
Of course, any discussion of Jackson’s talents now must be balanced with contemplation of why the Eagles bid goodbye to one of their most talented players.