The Philadelphia Eagles are 8-2 on the season, and their defense has turned things up a notch. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have been playing at an elite level, but the other outside CB spot has been a massive question mark.
Yet, Adoree Jackson has picked up the slack recently and played lights out against the Detroit Lions in Week 11.
Adoree Jackson Has Looked Like a Different Player for Eagles Recently
During that matchup against Detroit, Jackson lined up against Amon-Ra St. Brown 11 times, via Devin Jackson of the Philadelphia Inquirer, giving up one catch for eight yards on five targets. Shutting down one of the league's best receivers is a testament to Jackson and how he's bounced back after a sluggish start to the season.
Following the game, Jackson pointed out that external factors could be a reason why players start to lose some confidence, but that wasn't the case with him.
"You’re either born with it or you’re not," Jackson replied, via Cory Nidoh of the Philly Sports Network. "To have that resiliency and to understand it’s not the end of the day, but if you can find a way to improve and keep stacking days, good things will happen.”
And this statement goes to show why Fangio called him a survivor earlier in the 2025 campaign. It hasn't been the best season for Jackson thus far. Philadelphia didn't have the most confidence in their cornerback room, which is why they acquired Michael Carter II, Jakorian Bennett, and even Jaire Alexander, before he stepped away from the team.
While there's still room to grow for Jackson, it's clear that he's gaining more confidence as the season goes on. Being a serviceable cornerback for the Eagles is something they've been searching for.
Whether Jackson can keep this level of play up remains to be seen, but it's a positive development. Over the last two weeks, the defense has taken its play to another level, and the addition of Jaelan Phillips has only helped them out more.
Getting more pressure on the opposing quarterback makes the life of a cornerback that much easier, but being sticky is the main job. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio hasn't shied away from making changes in the secondary, but if Jackson continues to play like this, he'll stick in the starting lineup. Playing in the NFL, especially in Philadelphia, you need thick skin, and it appears that Jackson, in fact, has that.
The Jackson that fans saw in Week 11 is what they want to continue seeing going forward, and based on how the past few weeks have gone, that may be what they get. And that's a recipe for success.