Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson wants to play for a new team next season, according to reports.
According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout DeSean Jackson wants out.
Anderson mentioned that Jackson and head coach Dirk Koetter had an exchange about missing practice.
The veteran deep threat had a hot start to the 2018 season, gaining over 400 yards and three touchdowns in the first four games of the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jackson were on the same page, connecting on deep throws in every contest.
Then, Jackson began to slow down, opposing defenses honed in on the speedster. When Buccaneers quarterbacks would target Jackson, cornerbacks were ready for it. The shots down the field were no longer working, and the only results were incompletions and interceptions.
The injury bug also bit Jackson this season. He went down with a nagging thumb injury which forced him to miss three weeks. His Achilles injury from the Dallas game could force him to miss the season finale as well.
Jackson may receive his wish soon. The Bucs have an out in Jackson’s contract at the end of the season. If Tampa Bay does decide to cut Jackson, they won’t incur any penalties to their salary cap.
The California product is due $10 million next season. Tampa Bay may look to bring Adam Humphries back rather than keep Jackson around. With Chris Godwin and Mike Evans already on the books for next season, wideout isn’t the priority that it was when Jackson entered the fold in 2017.
Bucs fans won’t remember Jackson’s stint with the franchise fondly. Tampa Bay entered the 2017 campaign with so much hope. He looked to be the final piece to a stellar, playoff-worthy offense.
Instead, Jackson could never get on the same page with Jameis Winston. His numbers took a massive hit from his early days with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jackson was always able to show flashes of brilliance, but he was never able to keep it consistent. Even at 32-years-old, he still has talent and should be a hot commodity in free agency.