Los Angeles Rams with a new and veteran look at his wide receiver corporation, deal closed with DeSean Jackson

The Los Angeles Rams agreed to the terms of veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Sunday.

Jackson plays a much-needed role as a wide receiver in an attack that will feature quarterback Matthew Stafford next season.

“We are always trying to add some energy and we will see what the next month and a half brings,” said Rams coach Sean McVay on Friday when asked if the team needed to find a wide field to stretch the field to Stafford.

“Each offense in the NFL would probably love a deep threat, right?” Rams’ general manager, Les Snead, said, answering the same question. “If I add that, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who catches a deep ball per game; it can be low percentage throws. But when you definitely have strong skillful players, it can threaten the top shelf of the penthouse.”

Jackson’s contract is for a year, the team said.

A selection of three times in the Pro Bowl, Jackson recorded the highest number of touchdowns over 60 yards (24) in NFL history. The 34-year-old, who is entering his 13th season in the NFL, ranks sixth in yards per reception (17.4).

In Los Angeles, Jackson meets with McVay, who served as his offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Washington Football Team from 2014 to 2016. Jackson joins a reception corps that includes Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and the sophomore professional Van Jefferson. The Rams also use the tight end Tyler Higbee in the passing game.

However, McVay’s attack has lacked a true receiver of deep threats since the switch from Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans after the 2019 season.

“We need to be more explosive in the attack, but we have been a really explosive attack with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Higbee being the centerpieces of that; these guys are going to continue to be that,” said McVay. “But when you talk about opportunities, you have to call the shots that give you an opportunity to be explosive, and that’s where my contribution is. Whenever you have guys who can do that, it’s definitely a benefit.”

Jackson became a free agent when he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles in February.

Jackson’s return to Philadelphia has been limited by injuries since he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019, reuniting the recipient of the deep threat with the team that recruited him.

The excitement of the meeting was fueled by two touchdowns over 50 yards in the 2019 opening game against Washington, but Jackson ended up playing in just three games that season because of a central muscle injury. Jackson then lost 11 games in 2020 with an ankle injury.

Overall, he has 612 receptions for 10,656 yards and scored 60 touchdowns (including four runs and four punt returns). He was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2008 draft and played six seasons on his first spell with the team, before joining Washington in 2014.