This past season seemed to be a shaky one for the speedy wideout, and his season ended with speculation about his return in 2019. It started with him making statements about starting a journeyman QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick, over a franchise QB who was returning from a three game suspension, in Jameis Winston. Since his arrival to Tampa Bay, he has failed to build chemistry with Winston. To top it off, he reportedly asked for a trade shortly before the NFL trade deadline. The trade rumor was never confirmed by the Buccaneers, but it was not denied by Jackson himself. He has also been somewhat reclusive around One Buc Place, keeping to himself whenever possible and just not seeming happy per a source.
It all seems to be coming to a head very quickly after a TMZ Reporter caught up with Jackson at an airport yesterday. TMZ asked him if he will be playing for Tampa Bay next season. Jackson responded,
“That’s what I got an agent for, bro. I don’t know, I just go play, bro. That’s all I worry about.”
TMZ then asked if he had spoken with Arians after the comments he made about re-recruiting him and Jackson responded,
”I haven’t spoke to him bro.”
Jackson also posted a picture on Instagram Wednesday evening that has created further uncertainty about where he will play for the Bucs in 2019. The post said,
“PSA: You’re not fake for leaving behind people who aren’t benefiting you positively”
The receiver has had two rocky seasons in Tampa Bay. In 2018 he pulled in 774 yards and 4 TD’s on 41 receptions across 12 games. Which was slightly better than the 668 yards and 3 TD’s on 50 receptions across 14 games in 2017. Jackson was brought in to be the speedy deep threat the Bucs has been lacking in their receiving corps. Outside of a few good games with backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, he has simply not been able to make those connections downfield consistently.
As times goes on, it seems more likely every day that Jackson has played his last snaps as a Buccaneer despite Arians’ comments about wanting to keep him. Which if he does in fact want to keep Jackson, then why hasn’t their allegedly been any communication between the new head coach and Jackson? It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Arians remarks about Jackson are just simply a smoke screen to help increase Tampa Bay’s leverage in any trade talks with teams interested in the receiver’s services.
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Stay tuned to BucsReport.com as this story develops.
