Jamaal Jackson’s Knee Is Center Of Attention
Funny to think that so much can rest on one knee. Scary to think that said knee was surgically repaired less than nine months ago.
All eyes are on Jamaal Jackson as he makes his return to the starting center spot against Green Bay on Sunday, in charge of snapping to and protecting the new franchise quarterback. The plan leading up to this week was to ease Jackson back in, working the left knee a little more as each day passed. There is no longer time for such luxuries.
“This is a regular week, man. I can’t lay off because the game is right around the corner, and I have to test it,” said Jackson.
With the Packers deploying a 3-4 scheme, 6-foot-2, 337-pound nose tackle B.J. Raji will be lined up right on top if Jackson, meaning constant engagement for a center thrown back into the fray off ACL surgery. Jackson said that he prefers facing the 3-4 to start off, because he won’t have to worry about moving laterally as much.
No matter the scheme, it really comes down to how Jackson holds up.
“A little bit of that’s an unknown,” said coach Andy Reid. “I’ll tell you that I feel comfortable with him, he feels comfortable and the doctors feel comfortable. But, I can’t tell you that I’m not going to keep a close eye on him; I will do that. And Mike McGlynn and his experience at that center position is important for those first few weeks here.”
The Eagles clearly have reserve plans but are not expected to rotate other lineman in assuming Jackson doesn’t become a liability.
According to Reid, the Eagles are 13-3 over the last two years with Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson and Nick Cole starting alongside one another in the interior of the offensive line. All three, however, have dealt with injuries this preseason.
“I think this group has an opportunity to be one of the very best lines, as a group, in this league,” said offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. “I know that’s certainly one of their goals, and they’ve got to play well together as a unit. Everybody is getting a little bit of extra work in this first week and so that O-line is getting quite a bit of extra work in just because of the number of plays together haven’t been very high.”
The Eagles clearly have more confidence about their offensive line than the general public, but no one can breathe easy until they see what Jackson and Co. are going to have this season.
Mornhinweg, while discussing how the recovery time from ACL surgery is different for everybody, cited Jerry Rice’s return to the field 3½ months after his surgery in 1997. Of course Rice wasn’t 325 pounds and fighting in the trenches.
“In order for me to go out there and fully let everything go, I can’t be worried about how fast I came back or getting hurt again,” said Jackson. “I have to worry about… (Todd Herremans shouts out, ‘You have to worry about the MIKE!’). Yeah I have to worry about the MIKE. Once I get on the field, all worries have to go out the door.”
Follow Tim McManus on Twitter (@Tim_McManus) and contact him at tmcmanus@phillysportsdaily.com.
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