Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts took advantage of Desean Jackson’s return for an 81-yard touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
A fractured ankle has kept Jackson out of action since October 22. But after losing seven games, Jackson came back hard by turning his first reception on Sunday into his first touchdown in the 2020 season.
In a first-to-ten snap after a Dallas field goal, Hurts threw Jackson a 50-yard shot behind the Cowboys secondary. The touchdown gave Philadelphia a 14-3 lead with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter.
With 25 touchdown receptions of at least 60 yards, Jackson has more than any other player in NFL history.
The conclusion was ranked the third longest in the NFL this season, behind 85 yards from Derek Carr to Nelson Agholor for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday and an 84 yard from Ben Roethlisberger to Chase Claypool for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Denver Broncos on September 20.
Hurts became Alabama’s sixth alumni with an NFL completion of at least 80 yards, joining Joe Namath, Bart Starr, Ken Stabler, Richard Todd and Scott Hunter.
Hurts’ pass was the longest touchdown move for a former Alabama player since Richard Todd hit Wesley Walker on an 87-yard TD pass against the Oakland Raiders on October 23, 1977.
The longest of the Hurts’ 51 submissions had reached 42 yards before the launch for Sunday’s touchdown.
FOR MORE THAN AL.COMNFL COVERAGE, ACCESS OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @ AMarkG1.