If you watch the Seattle Seahawks late into preseason games, to the point at which the starters are in sweats doing TV interviews on the sidelines while their less-heralded teammates are giving it their all on the field, you’ve no doubt heard a line like this:
“These young players are not just trying to win a spot with their team; they are also auditioning for the 31 other teams in the league.”
One of the newest members of the Seahawks’ practice squad may have taken those words to heart. In the waning minutes of Denver’s final preseason contest against New Orleans, rookie wide receiver Courtney Jackson made a great leaping catch on a deep cross and also threw in several solid blocks as Denver mounted a game-winning drive.
Seattle Seahawks sign exciting Courtney Jackson
It did not secure him a spot with the Broncos. But it did get him an invitation to join the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad.
Jackson is a 5’11”, 189-pound receiver and kick returner who played three years at Syracuse before finishing his college career with a couple of seasons at Arkansas State. In his final two years in Jonesboro, he averaged better than 14 yards per reception and found the end zone nine times through the air. He notched three other scores on returns.
Though he will begin his Seahawks’ career on the practice squad, it is not hard to see why GM John Schneider would be interested. Seattle kept six receivers on its 53-man roster. Three of them – Cooper Kupp, Jake Bobo, and Cody White – are not known for their speed.
Jackson was clocked at 4.38 in the 40. That would make him the fastest receiver on Seattle's roster. Now that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is off to San Francisco, Klint Kubiak might be looking for a little extra juice on the outside.
Jackson’s ability to return kicks might also prove invaluable. It appears that rookie Tory Horton may take on the role of primary kick and punt returner. When he was slated to back up MVS as the WR4, that seemed like a very good way to get Horton’s playmaking skills on the field. However, now that Horton expects to see more action with the starting offense, Kubiak may want to save his legs a bit.
Having another dangerous option like Jackson fielding kicks could prove very beneficial to Horton’s development as a receiver. Jackson had noted how crucial his special teams skills would be to his future NFL career in a local TV interview shortly before the draft. He called himself among the best in the country on special teams and knew that might be his ticket to the NFL.
He was not chosen in the draft, but Denver scooped him up as part of their UDFA haul. He drew excellent reviews for his play and his attitude throughout camp, but could not crack the final roster.
But the quality he showed on tape did catch the eye of Seattle, and now he is a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Once a hungry young player gets his foot in the door, anything could happen. Especially when the player is as fast as Courtney Jackson.