LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Bears safety Eddie Jackson didn't mince words about his performance last season. He won't sugarcoat what was abundantly clear on the film.
“That's probably one of my worst seasons,” Jackson said Thursday. “I gave up too many deep balls. Just trying to eliminate that.”
Now is the time for Jackson to flip the script of a career that's still young. New Bears coach Matt Eberflus called it a “clean slate” for the 28-year-old Jackson, a fourth-round pick of Chicago in 2017 who broke out as a rookie and earned All-Pro honors in 2018 but has since regressed considerably.
The Bears signed Jackson to a four-year, $58.4-million contract extension in January 2020, a deal that secured his place as a core piece for the franchise. He has zero interceptions in the 30 games since landing that contract and has struggled both with coverage and tackling.
Jackson was the fifth-highest-paid safety in the NFL in 2021. His performance ranked 66th at his position, according to Pro Football Focus grades.
Jackson’s contract has since been restructured but still includes three more years as one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. It’s why the Bears may have no other choice than to embrace a clean slate with him.
“It’s still there,” Eberflus said of Jackson's talent. “You can see the range and the speed and the athletic ability that’s there. A guy with that experience, now he has to fit himself into our defense, the defense that we’re installing.
“I can see it in his attitude and his demeanor, I can see it in his eyes when I talk to him, that he is energized and he sees it as a fresh start for him.”
Since being hired by the Bears in January, the defensive-minded Eberflus has stressed the importance of forcing turnovers. There’s no player on the roster more important to that goal than Jackson, who had six interceptions during Chicago’s dominant defensive season in 2018.
Jackson’s two interceptions since then both came in 2019 on late-game desperation throws from backup quarterbacks, David Blough (Lions) and Sean Mannion (Vikings). In recent years, Jackson hasn’t displayed the type of instincts in coverage that allowed him to make game-changing playes his first two seasons.
“I feel like all that is behind me,” Jackson said. “I know what type of player I am. I know what I'm capable of. Right now, I'm just focused on coming in, learning the system and getting better every day.
“I know what I'm capable of. That's what I want to get back to, is making those plays. That's the biggest thing for me is just go out there flying around and lead my guys.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes. I’m willing to buy in. Whatever it takes, whatever they ask of me, I’m willing to do it.
Practice report
The Bears concluded their three-day voluntary minicamp Thursday morning at Halas Hall. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn and backup quarterback Nick Foles were among those absent from work.
Foles, who isn't in the Bears’ plans at quarterback, tweeted photos from his family’s vacation. Eberflus declined to comment on Foles’ status with the team.
Quarterback Justin Fields and the Bears’ offense struggled at times during practice Thursday.
“When you’re learning a new system, you’re going to have mistakes, and mistakes are good,” Eberflus said. “Mistakes are learning opportunities."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.