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Former Second-round Pick Visited Pittsburgh Steelers Immediately After Being Released by 49ers

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49ers defensive end Drake Jackson looks to build off 'humbling' rookie  season | AP News

When the San Francisco 49ers cut ties with Drake Jackson, it looked like the cruel end to a once-bright career. A second-round pick out of USC, a pass rusher who once opened a season with three sacks in a single game, suddenly reduced to an injury file and a failed physical. But tomorrow, Jackson walks into the Steelers’ South Side facility with something more dangerous than doubt — belief that his story isn’t finished.

Jackson’s promise was real. In 2023, he ripped through Pittsburgh’s offensive line in Week 1 and finished the day with three sacks, a performance that felt like a star being born. But then came the patellar tendon tear — a career-killer in NFL circles.
By May 9, 2025, the 49ers made their decision: waived with failed physical designation. Twenty-three games, six sacks, one interception. That was the end in San Francisco. The team turned to Yetur Gross-Matos and rookie Mykel Williams, leaving Jackson as another casualty of their 2022 draft class.

Now just 24, Jackson insists he’s fully healed. His rehab is complete, his burst returning, his hunger never gone. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, his comeback tour includes the Jets, Commanders, and yes — the Pittsburgh Steelers. For a Steelers team still trying to rediscover its “Steel Curtain” identity on defense and searching for depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, Jackson’s timing may be perfect.

For Pittsburgh, it’s a look. For Jackson, it’s survival.

49ers fans are already flooding X with messages of regret: “He had the tools.” “Still rooting for you.” But the wider league knows the truth: patellar tendon injuries can bury careers. Mike McGlinchey’s long recovery remains the warning.

Tomorrow, as Jackson steps into Pittsburgh’s building, he isn’t just chasing a roster spot. He’s chasing redemption.

If he flashes the burst that once terrorized quarterbacks, the Steelers could hand him a second life. If he falters, his name may drift into the long list of forgotten draft picks.

But for now, Pittsburgh offers something priceless: a door still open. And for Drake Jackson, sometimes that’s all a player needs to turn heartbreak into rebirth.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side