Former Arkansas Razorbacks running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is a free agent again. The Philadelphia Eagles have waived him from injured reserve with an injury settlement (via the NFL.com transaction log), ending a stay that lasted less than a month.
For Hog fans who watched Jackson punch in touchdowns at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the news is another reminder of how quickly an NFL roster can close.
Jackson signed with Philadelphia on Aug. 10 after Jacksonville waived him in May. He was filling in as training-camp depth behind Saquon Barkley while the Eagles dealt with injuries in the backfield.
Twelve days later, on the opening kickoff of a preseason game at New England, he made a tackle, stayed down, and was taken off the field by ambulance. Officials said he had strength and movement in all extremities. A CT scan was negative. He left the hospital that night and flew back with the team.
Two days later Philadelphia waived him with an injury designation. He cleared waivers and reverted to IR. The settlement this week formally cuts the last tie.
Jackson’s Arkansas chapter was short but productive. The Duncanville, Texas, product arrived in Fayetteville in January 2024 after stops at Texas (no games) and Utah, where he had already converted from quarterback to running back.
In 10 games as a Razorback, he rushed 149 times for 790 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 139 yards. Those 15 scores were the most by an Arkansas running back in a season since Alex Collins in 2015. He earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.
He went undrafted in 2025 and signed with the Jaguars. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad, never appearing in a regular-season game, then signed a reserve/future deal that Jacksonville ended in May.
At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Jackson has the size NFL teams like in a short-yardage and special-teams back. The Eagles signed him for that role. The hit against the Patriots ended the audition before he could show much on offense.
Hog Nation has seen this path before: a one-year transfer who produces in the SEC, goes undrafted, and then fights for practice-squad and camp spots. Jackson is 24.
Once medically cleared, he can sign with any team except Philadelphia until the settlement period plus a three-week penalty expires. For a back who scored 15 times in Fayetteville, the next call will decide whether that Arkansas season was a launch or a last college highlight.
For now, the Eagles chapter is closed. The next chapter starts when he is healthy enough to work out.
