Drake Jackson will miss the 2024 season as he continues to recover from a knee injury. The third-year defensive end has been placed on the reserve/PUP list, according to a team statement. 
Players placed on the active/PUP list at the start of training camp are allowed to be activated and return to practice at any time. However, the reserve/PUP designation guarantees players will be out for the entire season, just like injured reserve does at this point in the offseason. Jackson’s absence will be felt on the sidelines for San Francisco.
The former second-round pick only played in eight games last season due to injury, and an update earlier this week said he would be out for at least the rest of training camp. Today’s news is a notable step beyond that and means Jackson’s attention must be focused on the 2025 season, which is also the year his rookie contract expires.
San Francisco depends on Nick Bosa as an anchor on the edge, but Jackson was drafted to complement him as a full-time starter. The latter recorded three sacks as a rookie and matched that number in the first half of the 2023 season. Once he is fully healthy, he will face questions about his health and ability to perform consistently.
The 49ers signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, and the veteran is positioned to be a regular in 2024. San Francisco also added Yetur Gross-Matos on a two-year deal this offseason as part of an overall strategy aimed at providing relative stability along the perimeter. Jackson would have been expected to fill at least a rotational role this season, so it will be interesting to see if a new addition is made following his injury in late summer.
The team has more than $52 million in salary cap space, flexibility that could allow for a move in the near future. However, anyone acquired at this point will have a short ramp-up time with Week 1 so close. Jackson, 23, will need to make significant progress in the coming months as he looks to return to the field next year. His appointment created the roster spot needed for the 49ers to sign the safety. Tracy Walker become official.
