Eddie Jackson had two brutal seasons in 2020 and 2021, going both years without an interception. People questioned whether he’d gone soft after getting his massive payday in 2019. He’d lost his edge. It turned out the former All-Pro was dealing with rough off-the-field problems, including the death of his best friend and two miscarriages by his wife. To his credit, he never complained about that. He kept trying to play. Now his head is finally in a good place, and it shows. Jackson has two interceptions already through three games. Jaquan Brisker can sense the old Eddie is back, which means danger for the NFL.
The Chicago Bears‘ rookie safety doesn’t lack swagger. That was evident from the moment they drafted him, declaring they got one of the steals of the entire 2022 rookie class. He certainly hasn’t disappointed. While he doesn’t have Jackson’s eye-popping stat line, the rookie has made several impactful plays through the first three games. His confidence was on full display when he openly declared during a recent interview that the NFL isn’t ready for how good he and Jackson will become.
With all due respect to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Tashaun Gipson, neither of them could fill the void Adrian Amos left behind. He was that guy who could climb down to the line of scrimmage and help defend the run. He could also cover tight ends and move around as a chess piece. That enabled Jackson to do what he does best by playing coverage and using his instincts to make plays. That changed in April.
The best way to describe Jaquan Brisker is a more athletic and instincts Amos. That might seem presumptuous, but those were the flashes he showed at Penn State. Most people call him a box safety because of his great work as a run defender and blitzer. They never realize how dangerous he is in coverage until it’s too late. What he says isn’t true yet. Still, the potential is absolutely there. This tandem has a chance to be great.
