Jackson, the dynamic Eagles wide receiver, will almost certainly sit out Sunday's game against Tennessee after he was injured in a nasty head-on collision with Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson. Jackson had soreness in his neck and shoulders a day after the blast, but was otherwise in good spirits and receiving treatment Monday in the training room.
"I will tell you that it would be a stretch for him, a real stretch, for him to make it this weekend," coach Andy Reid said.
Jackson and Robinson were knocked out of Sunday's game after a frightening collision in which Robinson launched himself head first. Robinson also sustained a concussion.
Robinson was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver. Both players stayed on the turf for several minutes before being helped from the field.
"He got a pretty good jolt, now," Reid said. "That was a big hit. I'm not sure I've seen one here quite like that one in our stadium. That was a big hit for both guys."
Jackson had scored both of Philadelphia's touchdowns and the Eagles led the Falcons 14-0 at the time of the collision. Philadelphia won 31-17.
Not surprisingly, Jackson told Reid he didn't remember the hit that knocked him out.
"It's not like amnesia set in," Reid said. "He remembered his touchdowns and all the things that happened."
Before he was sidelined by the hit, Jackson was unstoppable. He gained 78 yards on three first-quarter touches, scoring on a 31-yard run and a 34-yard pass from Kevin Kolb. Then came the brutal hit that left him flat on the turf, motionless. Robinson was just as immobile.
"This was like a 'Rocky' movie," Reid said. "Very seldom do you see two guys collide and they're on the canvas there."
It's not the first time Jackson, who has 19 catches for 395 yards, was seriously flattened on the field.
He also suffered a concussion last season against Washington. He was injured then on a hit after running a short crossing pattern in the third quarter. He didn't lose consciousness and left the field on his own. He missed the next game, though.
Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper suffered a concussion two weeks ago and still has not returned for a game. Reid said it wasn't fair to compare potential recovery times for each player.
"I think they're all different, and so you just have to go on the symptoms and see what happens, and listen to the doctors, and listen to the player and the trainer," he said.
Jackson may be out, but Kolb is staying put. Reid said Kolb will likely start at quarterback against the Titans. Michael Vick was the third QB against the Falcons and still hasn't fully recovered from injured rib cartilage that he sustained two weeks ago.
While Reid didn't totally rule out Vick, he said "there's a pretty good chance" Kolb will get his third straight start. Kolb hit 23 of 29 passes for 326 yards with three touchdowns and an interception vs. Atlanta.
Kolb opened the season as the No. 1 QB only to lose his job to Vick in the first game after his own concussion. Reid handed the job to Vick and insists it's still belongs to him - a sticky situation if Kolb continues to thrive.
"You're dealing with one of the most competitive guys you're ever going to meet, so does he want to play? Absolutely, he wants to play," Reid said. "And does he want to be a starter? Absolutely. Does he know he can be a starter? Absolutely."
The Eagles have a bye after the Titans, so resting Vick and Jackson at least one more week would give the stars even more time to recover and possibly start Nov. 7 against Indianapolis.
Reid said Vick's health was improving, but he's still stiff and sore around the ribs.
Vick was only going to play against the Falcons in case of a true emergency. By Reid's definition, that was two QBs out and the Eagles needing a short-yardage run.
Vick was not on the sideline for the game against his former team and was given permission to arrive to the stadium only 45 minutes before kickoff. Vick was confined to the inside of the Linc to get treatment.
Reid brushed it off as a non-issue.
He won't be so lucky when he has two healthy and successful No. 1 QBs wanting to start.
