It's been two years since DeSean Jackson donned the midnight green as an Eagle. He sometimes reminisces on those times in Philadelphia with former teammates, but at the end of the day, the past is in the past.
The wide receiver no longer looks back on how he and the Eagles parted ways. He doesn't have anything against the place he used to call home. Instead, he can smile remembering the good and spend his time focused on his present with the Redskins.
"I never really had hard feelings towards Philadelphia," Jackson said on Wednesday during a conference call with the Philadelphia media. "Besides being released by whoever released me, that's different. But, I guess he's not there no more. It's never really been hard feelings to the city or the team or organization. Like I say, things happen and we move on. I'm blessed to still have an opportunity to be playing at a high level."
Jackson is now concentrating on being successful in Washington, giving his all every time he steps out on the field. This week specifically, he wants nothing more than to take down his former team in an NFC East rivalry game as the Redskins and Eagles go head to head on Sunday.
However, he is excited to see head coach Doug Pederson, who was part of the Eagles' coaching staff when he was in Philadelphia.
"Happy to see Doug there, man. I respect him (from) when he was there with Coach (Andy) Reid," Jackson said. "It's just congratulating him on getting the job I think he deserves. He's done some good things when he left and went to Kansas City and now he's back in Philadelphia. I definitely have a respect for Doug and a good relationship with him as well. It'll be good to see him when we play Sunday, but we have a job to do on our end to win the game. We'll do everything we can to prepare ourselves for that."
Washington, fresh off its third-consecutive victory, has had difficulties this season. The team started off 0-2 and its wins have been by small margins more often than not. Jackson feels that isn't going to cut it much longer.
The wide receiver currently has 18 catches for 278 yards and a touchdown. He prides himself on being able to stretch the field and make big plays, something that he and quarterback Kirk Cousins haven't really been able to do yet on a consistent basis.
It's something they're working to fix.
"We're trying to do everything we can to stay patient and hopefully connect on some of them. But, as a wide receiver, a guy that's know for doing some great things down the field, some big plays and all that stuff, we need a little more of that added to our play right now because that's what we're missing on," Jackson said. "So, once we kind of connect on that part of the game, I think we'll be in a lot better shape in these games instead of kind of struggling and barely winning the past couple games. We're trying to figure it out."
