DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 12: Jerry Jacobs #39 of the Detroit Lions gets set against the Denver Broncos during an NFL game at Empower Field At Mile High on December 12, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Despite starting camp on the PUP list, Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs seems very confident in a speed recovery.
With a mix of necessity and his own merit, Jerry Jacobs became a nice find for the Detroit Lions last year. In 13 games (nine starts), the undrafted rookie cornerback posted 34 tackles, seven pass breakups with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Pro Football Focus ranked Jacobs as their No. 1 undrafted rookie for 2021, with the fifth-best PFF grade (65.8) among all rookie cornerbacks.
But Jacobs’ promising and unexpected rookie season ended with a torn ACL early in Week 14’s game against the Denver Broncos. That means he’s 7-8 months removed from the injury, so it’s no surprise the Lions placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start training camp.
Jacobs seems like an easy candidate to start the season on the PUP list, since he’s unlikely to play the first 4-6 games anyway. But based on his Twitter activity, don’t tell him that.
Jerry Jacobs seems confident his stay on the PUP list won’t be as long as we think
Jacobs’ social media posts on Sunday, after he was placed on the PUP list, back up the inspirational messages he has posted all offseason as he works his way back to health. The positive vibe is great, but it’s also hard to know what’s real and not just pure optimism based on aggressive rehab that hasn’t appeared to have any setbacks. It feels like a virtual certainty he’ll miss a handful of regular season games though, at least.
Jacobs looks like a promising piece of the Lions’ secondary, and whenever he’s able to play this season he’ll surely show it again. But the team will make absolutely sure he’s good to go before he even gets on the practice field, let alone is cleared to play. Time will tell if his optimism is founded.
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