When a team’s season starts sliding, you don’t just wait for the offseason to fix it - especially if you’re Adam Peters. The Washington Commanders’ new general manager has already shown he’s not afraid to act decisively, even when the odds aren’t exactly in his favor. With his defensive front depleted and the unit struggling, Peters made a calculated move back in mid-October: he signed defensive end Drake Jackson, a once-promising pass rusher whose NFL journey had stalled due to injury.
This wasn’t a random flyer. Peters was in San Francisco’s front office when the 49ers drafted Jackson 61st overall in 2022.
He saw the potential up close - the burst, the bend, the ability to get after the quarterback. As a rookie, Jackson showed flashes, appearing in 15 games and making an impact in limited snaps.
But things went sideways in 2023 when he tore his patellar tendon, a brutal injury for any player, let alone one who relies on explosiveness off the edge. He had surgery in January and never returned to the field that season.
The recovery dragged into 2024, and by May, still unable to pass a physical, Jackson was waived.
That could’ve been the end of the story. But Peters saw something worth salvaging.
For seven weeks now, Jackson has been working out with the Commanders, slowly grinding his way back. On November 13, the team opened his 21-day practice window - a key step for any player coming off injured reserve. It gave Jackson a chance to reacclimate to the speed of the game, learn the defensive scheme, and show the coaching staff he could still contribute.
Then came a twist. Veteran safety Darnell Savage, formerly of the Packers and a Maryland product, let it be known he no longer wanted to be part of the team.
With Will Harris returning to the lineup and head coach Dan Quinn handing him Savage’s reps for the Broncos game, the writing was on the wall. By Thursday, Savage was released, opening up a roster spot.
Enter Jackson.
The Commanders officially activated the 6-foot-4, 273-pound edge rusher from IR, giving him a chance to return to live action for the first time since Week 8 of the 2023 season. In his abbreviated time with the 49ers, Jackson recorded six sacks and 12 solo tackles - solid production for a rotational player still developing his game.
Now, the question is: what does he have left?
No one - not even Jackson himself - can answer that just yet. He hasn’t played at full NFL speed in over a year, and there’s no substitute for live reps.
But the Commanders are clearly intrigued by the upside. If Jackson can shake off the rust and flash even a hint of the potential he showed as a rookie, it could be a quiet win for a team looking to retool its defense on the fly.
For Peters, this is more than just a midseason roster move. It’s a low-risk, high-upside swing at a position of need - and a chance to evaluate a player he once believed in, now under very different circumstances. If Jackson shows enough down the stretch, Washington could look to bring him back on a more permanent deal in the offseason.
And for a team that’s clearly building toward the future, every piece matters.