As DeSean Jackson returns for Eagles, can he, Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffery salvage poor seasons?

To say this has been a nightmarish season for tight end Zach Ertz and wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson would be an understatement.

With two games left in the regular season, the three veteran receivers have combined for just 48 receptions for 534 yards and 2 TDs. That wouldn't even be an acceptable season for any of them individually, let alone all three combined.

All three have missed significant chunks of the season with injuries. But they have also played well below expectations when healthy.

But they do have two games to try to salvage something from a lost season. 

Jackson was activated off injured reserve Saturday after having missed six games with an ankle injury. He will play Sunday against the Cowboys.

Ertz, meanwhile, is two seasons removed from setting an NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 116. He has just 30 catches for 286 yards in nine games. It's been well-documented that he is frustrated by the lack of a new contract, and that he could be playing his final games as an Eagle.

Jeffery was a key component in the Eagles' Super Bowl run, making a spectacular 34-yard touchdown reception in the championship game. He has just 5 catches for 93 yards in six games this season.

Jackson has played in just 7 of a possible 31 games since the Eagles traded for him in the spring of 2019. Jackson has been on injured reserve since injuring his ankle on Oct. 22.

In four games this season, Jackson has 13 catches for 155 yards, or one yard less than he had in the season opener in 2019. In that game, Jackson had 8 catches for 154 yards and touchdown catches of 51 and 53 yards.

That was the only full game he played in that season. Neither he nor Jeffery are expected back next season.

Still, look no further than those three to explain the Eagles' 4-9-1 record heading into their game Sunday against the Cowboys.

Combined, the three account for $36.5 million of the salary cap, comprising nearly 20%.

Jeffery had foot surgery last December and was on the physically unable to perform list through training camp. Yet the Eagles decided not to keep him on the PUP list when the season started because they felt he would be ready before the six games he'd have to miss on PUP.

Jeffery didn't return until Week 10, taking up a roster spot the entire time.

Still, Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Jeffery has contributed in other ways. Jeffery has not spoken to the media since November 2019. Jackson hasn't spoken since the first week of September and Ertz since mid October.

"The thing that I've appreciated with Alshon, even when he wasn't out there and going through his rehab and injury, is how he's really mentored these young receivers," Pederson said. "He continues to do this, just talking to them and coaching them. 

"And I guess another thing I've really appreciated about Alshon is that he's so unselfish. He doesn't have to have every ball thrown his way. He doesn't have to score all the touchdowns ... Obviously, he's healthier now. He's got his game legs back, and he's playing aggressive. And I just think he's in a really good spot right now, mentally and physically."

Of course, the Eagles certainly expected more than mentorship from someone counting $15.4 million against the salary cap this season. It’s the same with the others.

Wide receiver Greg Ward said Jackson and Jeffery have had the same kind of influence on the younger receivers.

"(Jackson) has been someone that I can look up to,” Ward said. “Always used to watch his game. For him to be an explosive player in this league, that was one of the things that stood out to me.

"I’m definitely being a sponge to those guys and learning all that I can."

Both Ertz and Jeffery are coming off strong games against the Cardinals. Ertz had 2 catches for 69 yards, one yard off his season high, and Jeffery had 2 catches for a season-high 63 yards.

Perhaps that's something the Eagles can build on.

Prediction

When the Eagles and Cowboys first met on Nov. 1, the Cowboys were down to seventh-round draft pick Ben DiNucci at quarterback.

Yet DiNucci's passer rating of 64.6 was better than Carson Wentz's of 61.2 as the Eagles trailed until the final minute of the third quarter in their 23-9 win over Dallas.

The Eagles didn't have running back Miles Sanders, who was out with a knee injury. And Jalen Hurts was more of a gadget play quarterback, getting in for three plays.

That should be significant in this meeting. For one, the Cowboys have the worst rushing defense in the NFL, allowing 162 yards per game and they allow an average of 30.9 points per game, second worst in the NFL.

The Eagles have averaged 181.5 yards rushing per game in Hurts' two starts at quarterback. Sanders needs 190 yards in these last two games to reach 1,000 for the season. The Eagles haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy in 2014.

When asked about that milestone, Sanders said: “I’m aware that we’ve got to win this week.”

Then he added: "The running game is very important, just getting it started and getting it rolling is going to open up a lot of stuff for us as a team. Having a quarterback like Jalen, where he can use his feet ... is going to help us regardless in whatever we want to do."

And, get this, the Eagles will have the same starting offensive line for the second straight week. That's only the second time this season they have used the same unit two games in a row after using 13 combinations in 14 games.

Score: Eagles 29, Cowboys 21.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.