Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson reacts after breaking up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Eagles won the game, 10-7.
This story originally appeared on Inside The Birds.
PHILADELPHIA – On the heels of a two-week period where much forecasting and discourse permeating from the outside centered on who would start opposite cornerback Quinyon Mitchell when the Eagles returned from the bye week, the team ultimately defaulted to its most consistent option in veteran Adoree’ Jackson.
Sidelined for the Eagles’ Week 8 rematch with the New York Giants after sustaining a concussion the previous week in Minnesota, Jackson notched his fourth start of the season Monday at Lambeau and played “really well,” according to head coach Nick Sirianni.
“Just doing my job, really,” Jackson said. “Just going out there, just trying to play with my brothers and for my brothers. And that’s pretty much it. That’s how I feel like I played … not worrying about this, that and just trying to execute my part of what I need to do in the defense.”
It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster season for the 30-year-old cornerback who spent most of the summer in the thick of a position battle with third-year pro Kelee Ringo. Jackson would ultimately pull ahead, beginning the season as a starter, though his uneven first impression only brightened the spotlight on a role in flux and fueled skepticism.
Injuries have also hindered his continuity and growth within the defense. In addition to the concussion, a groin injury prevented Jackson from playing in Tampa earlier in the year.
Variables outside his control also complicated the positional landscape, as the Eagles went into the bye expecting to have Jakorian Bennett return from injured reserve after and also added a pair of cornerbacks ahead of the trade deadline in Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander, the latter of whom recently stepped away from the team.
While Carter still remains and the Eagles have since activated Bennett to the 53-man roster, Jackson appears to have defied the odds, establishing staying power as a starter. Through the turbulence, Jackson’s approach or mindset never wavered. He remained level-headed and committed to daily improvement.
Sure, Packers quarterback Jordan Love didn’t exactly pepper Jackson’s side of the field with targets, but the veteran answered the bell in a huge spot, honing in on fundamentals and eliminating explosive plays.
This week against a dynamic Detroit Lions offense Jackson will likely be unable to avoid the spotlight. For perspective, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams have combined for 12 receiving touchdowns, while tight end Sam LaPorta, second on the team in targets (49) serves as an intermediary threat and safety valve for quarterback Jared Goff.
Even do-it-all running back Jahmyr Gibbs, dangerous in space, has logged 32 receptions, which places a greater emphasis on open-field tackling.
“They got a quarterback that is dynamic, that can make all the reads, do all the throws,” Jackson began. “Can take the game over, manage the game. They got two great running backs that can both go the distance, if need be, and they have a plethora of receivers mixed in with a tight end that can change the game and be dynamic at any moment. So, when you have that, you can see why they are who they are.”
The high-flying Eagles defense, presided over by coordinator Vic Fangio, someone Campbell this week referred to as a “legend,” battered the Packers, limiting the team to 261 yards of total offense and allowing only seven points. The group also registered three sacks and produced a pair of turnovers.
It’s the unit the Eagles have largely hung their hat on through the first nine games but faces its stiffest test to date in a Lions offense that ranks second in points per game (31.4) and sixth in yards per game (372.4). Goff is ninth in the NFL in passing yards (2,235) and second in passing touchdowns (20).
The X-factor on offense for the visiting Lions could conceivably be Williams, the fourth-year speedster who comes in averaging 17.6 yards per reception and boasts a season-long catch of 64 yards. For the Eagles to negate Williams’ game-changing impact, the secondary must fixate on details and remain on high alert.
“If you’re not playing it right and matching it right, [Williams] can get behind a defense, he can stretch out the field,” said Mitchell. “So, just playing our defense and playing our technique [will be key].”
Given the vast array of pass targets the Lions have at their disposal, the unit presents a unique set of challenges for any defense, even one as suffocating as the Eagles. The new-look pass rush, headed by the newly acquired Jaelan Phillips, provided an instant spark, rattling Love and alleviating pressure from the backend.
Should the Eagles continue to marry their rush and coverage, they’re likely to have the upper hand. Mitchell, who logged a pair of passes defended Monday night, cited the importance of fundamentals, details and physicality this week. Jackson, no stranger to being under the microscope of late, isn’t making it bigger than what it is, echoing a similar sentiment as his running mate. And if Jackson continues to yield favorable returns, the default option could become permanent.
“Really just try to do your job,” he said. “That’s what it boils down to. As much as what they do well, us as a team, we do things well. But at the end of the day, it always comes down to details, technique and fundamentals. So just hone in on those and you should be all right.”
