PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Whether it’s his end zone celebrations, or his appearances on television shows, or just some plain, old football matters, it’s hard for DeSean Jackson to stay out of the news these days.
The flamboyant receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles did not practice Wednesday because of the sprained left foot he sustained in Sunday’s 30-27 victory over Dallas. Coach Andy Reid said Jackson is “day to day.”
Jackson caught four passes for a career-high 210 yards against Dallas, and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. It was the most yards in NFL history for a player making four catches or fewer in a game, and the third-most receiving yards in franchise history.
The Eagles (9-4) meet the New York Giants (9-4) on Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium in a battle for first place in the NFC East.
Included in Jackson’s total vs. Dallas was a 91-yard touchdown catch from Michael Vick in the fourth quarter. He stopped at the 1-yard line on that play and fell backwards into the end zone, earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
He sustained his foot injury, though, earlier in the game, on a punt return.
“We think he’s going to be OK here,” Reid said, “but we’ll just see how it goes.”
Reid said Jackson was fine Monday, but elected to hold him out of drills Wednesday as a precaution. The receiver was available to reporters only briefly, which was convenient for him, seeing as though Jackson made news Tuesday, when he went on a television show hosted by Cincinnati Bengals receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, and lobbied to have his contract reworked.
“They’re going to have to do something,” Jackson said, referring to the Eagles, “because the way I’m out there, putting it in, something’s got to happen, baby.”
Jackson was stopped by the media as he left the team’s practice facility and talked only football, saying that he felt “so-so.” When asked whether he would play against the Giants, he said: “That’s the plan.”
Jackson, a second-round pick in 2008, has one year left on his four-year, $3.4 million rookie deal, which included a $1.3 million signing bonus. Reid does not believe Jackson will be distracted by such matters.
“He’s into the football part,” Reid said. “That part I know. He’s loving what he’s doing. I never get into contract stuff with you guys anyway. But I can tell you that, for the football part of that, he’s enjoying playing the game right now.”
Jackson has 42 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns. He leads the NFL with an average of 23.1 yards per catch.
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