Could the Colts Look into Adding Recently Released Veteran Deep Threat DeSean Jackson?

The Los Angeles Rams have officially waived veteran wideout DeSean Jackson, which raises the question of whether the wide receiver needy Indianapolis Colts could be interested:

The 34 year old wideout has 8 receptions for 221 receiving yards (27.6 ypr. avg.) and a touchdown reception during 7 games in 2021—which for perspective, his impressive yards per reception average would currently lead the league among qualifying NFL wideouts.

While the 3x Pro Bowler isn’t the same electrifying playmaker he once was, the 5’10”, 175 pound wideout is still a proven deep threat, who could complement emerging big bodied 2nd-year star Michael Pittman Jr. and the rest of the Colts’ receiving corps downfield.

The Colts have already placed Parris Campbell (foot) on injured reserve, and longtime veteran T.Y. Hilton is now recovering from a concussion—having previously just come back from a quad injury and a neck injury even prior to. The injured pair was the Colts’ projected ‘speeders’ at wide receiver entering the 2021 campaign.

The Colts and specifically, starting quarterback Carson Wentz could use another deep speed wideout who can stretch the field—especially with both Campbell and Hilton on the mend right now.

It also helps that both Wentz and Jackson have a prior familiarity with one another from 2019-20, as former teammates with the Philadelphia Eagles.

During that same span, Jackson had 23 receptions for 395 receiving yards (17.2 ypr. avg.) and 3 touchdown receptions during 8 starts—having been limited with a number of injuries during his second pro stint in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’.

Still, when both healthy, Wentz enjoyed throwing to Jackson’s speed recently back in 2020:

“The thing about DeSean is he makes it easy for me,” Wentz said via NJ.com. “When you create the amount of separation that he does, he makes it easy.”

“I feel really good (about) being on the same page as him,” Wentz added back in August of 2020 as ex-Eagles teammates. “Even last year, when he was hurt for a while, we were always talking to each other … So, I feel like when we do get the reps out there, we’re right on cue, and I really like seeing where he’s at.”

The issue with Jackson is that it seems he’s been a bit disgruntled at his past few NFL stops—ultimately forcing his way out of town, which begs the question of whether he’d be a team player in Indianapolis—especially in what would probably be a limited complementary role catching passes from Carson Wentz downfield.

That being said, the Colts could use Jackson’s still-elite speed on the field—although his signing is still pretty unlikely, given past precedent of Indy’s recent veteran wideout additions (or rather, their lack thereof).