Can former 49ers' second-round pick help the Commanders' defense?

The bye week came at a perfect time for the Washington Commanders. While it's probably too late to save the season, the 3-8 Commanders are expected to have several injured players back for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

On offense, Washington could get wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown and Treylon Burks back. Defensively, safety Will Harris is expected to return. He's been out since Week 3 with a fractured fibula, and Washington's secondary has struggled without him. Another defensive player the Commanders could have this week is defensive end Drake Jackson.

Jackson, the 24-year-old former second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, hasn't played in an NFL game since 2023, when he tore the patellar tendon in his knee. He missed the entire 2024 season and was waived in May 2025. The Commanders signed him last month, as GM Adam Peters was the 49ers assistant GM when San Francisco selected Jackson with the No. 61 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Washington immediately placed Jackson injured reserve, knowing he was close to a return.

Last week, the Commanders opened his 21-day return window. Jackson could make his Washington debut this weekend.

What does head coach Dan Quinn think of Jackson's impending debut?

"Yeah, as we're getting through another full week from him, where's the pass rush? How's the movements, where he’s going? He hadn't played for a while, so to get extra reps to see and test, push it, it's a big step," Quinn said on Wednesday.

"And so, that's why this week's a big one for him. He's worked hard in the time he's gotten here, first off to the side, extra work, getting his knee stronger, getting better, and now you see the movements, where's the football conditioning, how's the pass rush skill work? So, it's not just physical; then it's also the skill work that goes with it. But I have been pleased about the work that he's put in, so I'm excited to see kind of the next three days play out and then see where we go from there, but he's off to a good start."

Washington has lost Deatrich Wise, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Dorance Armstrong this season. That's three of the Commanders' projected top four defensive ends entering this season. Washington needs help at defensive end, so Jackson will have an opportunity to reward Peters' faith in him.

If Jackson flashes the potential that he's shown in college and briefly in the NFL, he has a chance to help the Commanders moving forward.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Can Drake Jackson make an impact?