[Baltimore Sun] Ravens waive S Eddie Jackson amid latest turmoil for secondary
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Eddie Jackson’s Ravens career didn’t last long.
The Ravens waived the veteran safety Saturday, less than a week after he didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Coach John Harbaugh declined to say why Jackson did not travel with the team.
“I really don’t have anything to say about those personnel decisions that get made, or why they get made,” he said. “Some of those things are just in-house conversations that we have, and it stops there.”
Jackson participated in practice Friday in Owings Mills but a day later was cut loose before the team traveled to Los Angeles for Monday night’s game against the Chargers.
Baltimore signed the 30-year-old former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in July as a replacement for Geno Stone, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason. But Jackson’s play was underwhelming from the start and he seemed to get worse as the season wore on.
Jackson had 30 tackles in eight games for the Ravens but struggled mightily against the pass. He allowed a passer rating of 144.9 in coverage and surrendered 15.6 yards per catch, per Pro Football Focus, which has him ranked 83rd out of 89 safeties. He also had just one pass breakup.
One of Jackson’s worst games came in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Ravens won, 41-31, but Jackson allowed four catches on five targets for 75 yards.
A week later was even worse. Starting over a likewise struggling Marcus Williams, he was burned for six catches on 10 targets for 79 yards and two touchdowns and dropped two would-be interceptions in the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Jackson was a healthy scratch the following week in Baltimore’s win over the Denver Broncos, then played just 16 snaps in a Thursday night win over the Bengals four days later in what turned out to be his final game in Baltimore.
His departure is only the latest in a series of moves for what has been the NFL’s worst pass defense. Baltimore has also flip-flopped between Williams and Ar’Darius Washington at safety alongside All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Washington will be the starter going forward, Harbaugh said.
In a corresponding move to Jackson being waived, the Ravens signed inside linebacker Kristian Welch from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Welch has played the past two weeks on special teams but could see an increased role if Roquan Smith (hamstring) is ruled out against the Chargers. Smith is questionable after missing practice all week.
Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.
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