Reports: Commanders signing DE Drake Jackson to active roster

Field Level Media|published: Tue 14th October, 11:02 2025

NFL: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

August 12, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Drake Jackson (95) rushes against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Washington Commanders are signing free agent defensive end Drake Jackson to their active roster, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Jackson, 24, was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by San Francisco. He sustained a torn patellar tendon in 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season before being waived by the 49ers in May after a failed physical.

Before the injury, Jackson recorded 21 tackles, six sacks, nine quarterback hits, nine passes defensed and an interception in 23 games (no starts) for San Francisco in 2022-23.

Both the Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles worked Jackson out last week, per the NFL's daily transaction wire.

Washington has placed two defensive ends on injured reserve this season. Deatrich Wise Jr. (quad) will miss the rest of the season while Javontae Jean-Baptiste (pectoral) was placed on IR on Oct. 1 and will be out for "a while," per head coach Dan Quinn.

Jackson will look to further boost a Commanders (3-3) pass rush that had three sacks in Monday night's loss to Chicago and ranks sixth in the league with 18 sacks this season.

--Field Level Media

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