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Bethlehem, Pa. • With the Philadelphia Eagles steadfast on not renegotiating his contract and the date that he would lose a year toward free agency set in stone, DeSean Jackson has decided to end his holdout.
The Eagles wide receiver will report to training camp at Lehigh University by Monday, a source close to Jackson said Saturday.
Jackson has skipped the first 11 days of camp because, it is believed, he wants a contract extension. He has previously stated that he wants a new deal, although he has yet to publicly confirm his desire for the Eagles to tear up his four-year contract and negotiate another.
A message left with Jackson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was not returned Saturday.
The Eagles had no comment.
Jackson's arrival on Monday will boost a receiving group that has also been without starter Jeremy Maclin, who has been sidelined by an unspecified illness. A noticeably thinner Maclin has been in camp since Tuesday but has yet to practice.
Eagles coach Andy Reid hasn't divulged Maclin's illness because he said the 23-year-old's medical tests are still being evaluated. But the uncertainty surrounding Maclin has led to Internet rumors that he is battling some dire, career-threatening disease.
"Those crazy reports aren't true," Maclin said.
Reports that the Eagles have initiated talks with Rosenhaus aren't true either, a team source said. The team typically does not negotiate with holdouts, a stance Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie reiterated on Thursday.
Jackson's planned return was also likely spurred by the completion of the collective bargaining agreement, in which Tuesday was declared the date in which players under contract must report to camp if they don't want to forfeit an accrued season toward becoming free agents.
Jackson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Indications are that he and the Eagles hope to agree on an extension that would keep the two-time Pro Bowl receiver in the fold long-term. It remains to be seen if both sides have a similar view of Jackson's worth.
He is slated to earn approximately $600,000 in base salary this season. He's already lost $330,000 if the Eagles decide to fine him $30,000 for each day missed since the start of camp.
It is unclear if Jackson will be able to practice Monday or if he intends to speak to the media. If he doesn't participate in either of two sessions that day he may not be required to practice until Saturday. Players have off Tuesday, Wednesday is a walk-through in preparation for Thursday's preseason opener against the Ravens, and Friday is another off day.
With Jackson and Maclin out, slot receiver Jason Avant and backups Riley Cooper and Chad Hall have carried the load with the first team. The results had been "maddening" early in camp, according to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, but Saturday was their best outing.
Still, Mornhinweg and the receivers said they needed their top two guys.
"When Jeremy gets healthy, he'll be out here. I believe he'll be fine no matter how many games that he plays," Avant said. "And when DeSean gets here with his contract issue — or whatever it is — I believe he'll be ready to play. I just pray that he's working out right now. 'DeSean, you better be working out.' "
Jackson shouldn't take long to get into playing shape, although the time line could depend upon his mind-set. Maclin said that he was getting better, but he has done very little at camp aside from some light conditioning.
The state of Maclin's health, though, remains a mystery. In April he said that he lost 15 pounds the month before after enduring "mono-like" symptoms. By the next month, he said, he gained back all of the lost weight.
However, when players reported to camp on July 27 Reid said Maclin was on an excused absence, later revealing that the Eagles' 2009 No. 1 pick was recovering from an illness.
With Maclin and Jackson out the NFL rumor mill had the Eagles recently offering a contract to receiver Randy Moss. That was not true, league sources said. Neither was the summerlong speculation that the Eagles were first in line to acquire Plaxico Burress.
Burress ended up signing with the New York Jets, which prompted a sigh of relief from Cooper.
"I tried not to pay a lot of attention to the (Burress rumors), but I'd be lying to you if I didn't say it affected me," Cooper said. "I'm happy where I'm at. I love Philadelphia and I love the Eagles and I want my role to remain the same."
It may be a much bigger role.
Bears want artificial surface at Soldier Field
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and his teammates made it clear Saturday how they felt about poor grass conditions at Soldier Field that forced the cancellation of the previous night's practice there.
"It's a joke," Urlacher said. "I don't understand why they can't have the field ready. ... I think coach (Lovie Smith) did the right thing not letting us practice on that stuff."
Bears players called for a switch to an artificial playing surface at Soldier Field after the 'Family Fest' practice at the stadium was canceled due to dried out sod.
The Bears immediately returned to Bourbonnais, Ill., for a late-night closed practice Friday night that ended at about 10:45 p.m., then came back out for a 2:30 p.m. practice here Saturday.
Chicago Park District officials failed to put enough water on 3½-week old sod, causing the seams to buckle.
It's not the first issue with Soldier Field's sod, but most of the problems have been in November and December. Urlacher urged the team to go to an artifical surface.
"I don't understand why they don't have FieldTurf, yet," Urlacher said. "We're a fast team. We play fast on FieldTurf. The injury issues aren't as bad as they used to be (with artificial turf). They've gone down a lot in the last few years with the way they made the turf and stuff. So I don't understand it.
"Use our speed. You know we can run. Let us go out there and run."
Urlacher was hardly alone in calling for a change.
"I like artificial grass: no pot holes, no dips in the ground, and things like that," wide receiver Devin Hester said. "When you're coming out of breaks (on FieldTurf), it's a nice, tight grip. ... Coming out of your breaks is easier and you don't have to worry about slipping and things like that. It's more consistent."
Team management has considered an artificial surface in the past, but decided against it in favor of player safety.
Player rep and kicker Robbie Gould said safety with the grass field is a real concern when it's in a poor state. He urged the NFL to get involved in improving the Soldier Field playing surface.
"Just like last year in Minnesota, that field was frozen, Brett Favre ended his career on a sack by hitting his helmet on the turf," Gould said, referring to a game moved outdoors when the Metrodome roof collapsed. "So I think at the end of the day they should get involved.
"To what point or what extent will they get involved, I don't know."
The Bears are scheduled to play the Bills at Soldier Field next Saturday in their preseason opener.
"I understand some of the players will want FieldTurf and some will want grass," Smith said. "We have a grass field right now and for whatever reason it wasn't ready then.
"But I'm sure we will have the field ready next time. We can't really get into that. We're going to play on the surface."
Derrick Mason says he has chosen to sign with Jets
Derrick Mason is reuniting with Rex Ryan, this time with the New York Jets.
The former Ravens wide receiver announced Saturday that he is signing with the Jets, adding a boost to New York's receiving corps.
Mason announced the decision in a statement and added that he's "looking forward to working under Rex and rejoining some familiar faces." After choosing the Jets over the Ravens and Titans, he wrote on his Twitter page: "Jet fuel is full time to fly!!!!"
Terms of the deal were not immediately available, and the team had yet to make an announcement regarding Mason.
Mason, 37, fills the void created when the Jets granted Jerricho Cotchery's request to be released. Mason spent his first eight seasons with the Tennessee franchise before playing the last six with Baltimore. He knows Ryan from their days together with the Ravens when the coach was the defensive coordinator.
"I would like to thank my family for supporting this difficult decision I made today!" Mason wrote in a series of tweets. "For 14 yrs they have been by my side and they chose to do it yet again even though this time it was hard for them!! Also I would like to thank all of Baltimore for supporting me for the last 6 years!! U guys and gals have been my football family and I will forever appreciate that support and love!"
ESPN first reported Mason's decision Saturday.
Mason caught 61 passes for 802 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but was cut by the Ravens on July 28. Baltimore was interested in bringing Mason back at a lower salary, but the Ravens had to compete with the Jets and Titans. Mason visited the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J., on Thursday and went home to contemplate where he would play his 15th NFL season.
"I, obviously, would like to get Derrick right now," Ryan said Friday, uncertain of the Jets' chances. "But he's got other teams, he's got other things like that, and I'm sure he'd have to leave money on the table to come here."
Mason has 924 catches — 12th-most in NFL history — for 11,891 yards and 66 touchdowns in a consistently productive career. He's the Ravens' career leader in receptions and yards receiving, and moves from catching passes from Joe Flacco to Mark Sanchez.
"Going from one young gun to another!! Hahahahahaha," Mason tweeted.
Mason is the latest big-name addition to the Jets' receiving corps, which has been revamped since last season. New York re-signed Santonio Holmes when free agency began, and then made a big splash when it signed Plaxico Burress last Sunday — even though the former Super Bowl star with the Giants had just been released from prison after serving 20 months on a gun charge.
Burress has yet to practice with the Jets after having to wait for the collective bargaining agreement to be ratified and then tweaking his left ankle during a workout. He could practice for the first time Sunday.
The Jets allowed both Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith to become free agents and they signed elsewhere; Edwards with San Francisco and Smith with Buffalo. New York also cut the popular Cotchery, who had asked in to be traded or released, on Thursday. That left New York with very little experience at the position beyond Holmes and Burress.
Mason will likely replace Cotchery as the team's No. 3 receiver in the slot, but could see even more action if Burress is slow to get back into football shape or catch on to the offense. The Jets are also excited by what they've seen so far from speedy fifth-round pick Jeremy Kerley from TCU.
"He's just a baller," Sanchez said of Kerley. "There's always one big surprise at camp and for a guy that didn't know much of the playbook coming in, he's picked it up very fast."
Mason briefly retired before training camp two years ago, but returned and appeared rejuvenated. He caught 73 passes — the eighth time in his career he had at least that many receptions — and posted his eighth 1,000-yard receiving season. Mason was solid again last season, and Burress said Thursday he'd be excited to have another former Michigan State star as a teammate. "I love D-Mase," Burress said. "He's a Pro Bowl receiver, had a lot of success in this league. He's been consistent since Day 1 that he stepped in here. If he does come here, it would be great. I would love to have him. It would be another Spartan in the building. I welcome all Spartans."
Around the league
Titans • Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt says the Titans were totally surprised by cornerback Cortland Finnegan's decision to walk out of training camp considering his agent had just sent them a counteroffer to consider during talks to extend his contract. Finnegan left camp Friday night, apparently just hours after his agent, Terry Watson, sent the Titans a counter to their offer on an extension to his contract. The Titans learned Finnegan had left when he did not report Saturday morning to a special teams meeting.
Texans • A week into training camp, some of Houston's stars are already ailing. Running back Arian Foster (hamstring), receiver Andre Johnson (dislocated finger) and linebacker Brian Cushing (knee) sat out Saturday's practices, though all three are expected back by the end of next week. Johnson hurt his left index finger on Tuesday, the Texans' second day of practice. Coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson is also one of several players who's been sick in recent days. Foster pulled his left hamstring on Friday, and Cushing has been out all week while recovering from offseason knee surgery. Kubiak said Saturday that Johnson may return to practice on Sunday, and Foster will definitely miss "a few days." Kubiak is hoping that Cushing returns by the middle of next week.
Raiders • Restricted free agent running back Michael Bush has re-signed with Oakland. The team announced Bush signed the deal and reported to training camp Saturday. Bush is the last restricted free agent to sign a deal this summer.
Jaguars • Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard has dealt with lower back pain before. It caused him to miss some practice time last season and even posed problems during workouts this summer. His latest bout has him sidelined indefinitely. Garrard's sore back kept him out of Jacksonville's scrimmage Saturday, allowing more repetitions for first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert and third-stringer Luke McCown. But it also caused some concern as the Jaguars approach their first preseason game. —
Preseason schedule
Week 1
Thursday
Baltimore at Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m.
Jacksonville at New England, 5:30 p.m.
Seattle at San Diego, 6 p.m., ESPN
Denver at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.
Arizona at Oakland, 8 p.m.
Friday
Cincinnati at Detroit, 5:30 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 5:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Washington, 5:30 p.m.
San Francisco at New Orleans, 6 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City, 6 p.m., Ch. 13
Saturday
Green Bay at Cleveland, 5:30 p.m., NFL Network
N.Y. Giants at Carolina, 6 p.m.
Buffalo at Chicago, 6 p.m.
Indianapolis at St. Louis, 6 p.m.
Minnesota at Tennessee, 6 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15
N.Y. Jets at Houston, 6 p.m., ESPN