Rodrigue, from https://theathletic.com/2923739/2021/10/31/fun-was-in-the-details-as-rams-clobber-texans-plus-desean-jackson-fallout-and-looking-at-trade-deadline-the-pile/?source=emp_shared_article
DeSean Jackson fallout and what happens next
A situation that had been escalating behind the scenes came to a head late last week, as McVay confirmed that Jackson and the team had agreed to allow Jackson to pursue a trade. Jackson, signed by the Rams in March to help add more deep layers to the passing game after the team traded for Stafford, has been frustrated with his playing time and targets (he has been targeted 15 times, catching eight with one touchdown). Jackson, who has incentives in his existing contract that escalate his pay based on active games (seven) and snaps (he needs 51 percent for an escalator; he has played about 23 percent of snaps), a source told me at the time of his signing, previously lobbied McVay for more targets just a few weeks ago.
I don’t know if a team will trade for Jackson. He’s healthy right now, which is important, and his contract, especially now that seven games of it have been paid out, is certainly not a roadblock for most teams that might want to add him, especially if they believe they’ll make a playoff run down the stretch. I could even see him being a part of a trade package put together by the Rams, who we can never fully rule out being active ahead of Tuesday’s deadline (more on that shortly).
But if they find no willing partner for Jackson, I can’t see them bringing him back into the fold and believe, in that scenario, he would be released. Kupp and Woods were gracious and respectful in their comments on Jackson after Friday’s practice, and said the de-escalating situation between Jackson and the team had not really been an issue in the locker room and if he were to ultimately return to the team, they’d be fine with it. Yet how could he return, in light of his expressed unhappiness just a few months after he celebrated returning to his Los Angeles hometown, in hopes of winning a ring with a Super Bowl contender? Not only did the Rams enter into Sunday’s game with a league-leading 20.6 percent explosive pass play rate (of which they are attaining both via catch-and-run plays such as screens, and through the air), they are achieving this with three different receivers not named Jackson, who all averaged more than 12 yards per catch, with 20-plus catches, through seven weeks (with an average depth of target, ADOT, of nine or more yards — this is important). The Rams also entered the week first in offensive EPA, according to TruMedia, and that number certainly won’t drop after their high-volume performance against Houston. And I’m certainly not naïve to the fact that McVay went well out of his way in his opening comments in Sunday’s postgame press conference to name-drop Jefferson’s 68-yard touchdown, a deep air-yards explosive if I ever saw one, especially notable in light of this situation.
Jackson’s Hall of Fame-caliber speed and threatening ability against defenses is, of course, extremely valuable — and the Rams have been vocal about his historic accomplishments and ability. But let’s not kid ourselves here: The Rams are still getting the ball the hell downfield without him, and even without needing him as a decoy. As illustrated in detail in this piece on Stafford from last week, the things that used to be most problematic for this offense simply are not anymore, at least so far.
Don’t conflate that statement with the idea that they don’t still want a top-end true-speed player. To be clear: That always helps. Fourth-round tight end/hybrid player Jacob Harris should take this situation, and Atwell’s shoulder injury, as a clear signal to him to step up in his own development. Harris is clearly still pretty raw, although possesses all the explosive gifts of a player who the team also hopes to develop into a downfield threat, but he’s getting penalized too much right now and has to clean up his game.
Meanwhile, Skowronek, the rookie receiver taken in the seventh round, got some time through the second half of Sunday’s game. While McVay probably won’t send him on true deep concepts, Skowronek’s effort alongside former practice-squad tight end Kendall Blanton in helping block on Woods’ second touchdown, and then his noted usage as the “over” player and Stafford’s target on an over-under concept that went for 18 yards (swapping with Kupp on a bit of design eye-candy, because Kupp played the under where he’s often the over) indicates that he’s also a player to keep an eye on. Again, he probably wouldn’t be a go-to on those deeper concepts, but any sort of presence underneath can help unlock other guys over the top.
.
