Drake Jackson with the 49ers
This would be Jackson’s third year in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers selected the edge rusher 61st overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his first year, he was primarily a rotation player on the defensive line. As his second year began, there was a lot of anticipation for his season.
Jackson comes from USC, where he played for three years. In those three seasons, Jackson forced 25 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, according to Sports Reference. Having dominated in college, the 49ers knew their draft pick had great potential. Jackson also had a chance to develop as a rookie with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
In week one of the 2023 season, the San Francisco 49ers faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. San Francisco’s dominant performance was partly due to Jackson. In the game, Jackson had three sacks. After this performance, hopes were high. Unfortunately, Jackson was hardly seen anymore. He played in eight games, but his presence was not felt.
In his two seasons with the 49ers, Jackson had 21 total tackles, including 12 solo, five tackles for loss, and three sacks, according to Pro Football Reference. He also had an interception in 2022. Jackson’s potential was there, his injuries just got out of hand. Hopefully, once he’s healthy again, he can make a comeback.
What’s next for Drake Jackson?
Knee injuries early in one’s career are challenging. A setback in recovery makes his return even more difficult. This is only his third year, hopefully the young player can come back strong next year. It will be a crucial year for him. The first step is obviously recovery, but then it’s about building back strength and getting back in shape. This year off could help him fully recover and prepare for next year’s training camp.
His future with the 49ers will depend on it. He has to come back and prove he is fully recovered and then he can compete for a spot on the roster in 2025. If he makes the 53-man roster, hopefully he can make his presence felt early. Jackson is still a young player, only 23, and his future looks bright, he just needs to recover from this knee injury.
