Filed under: Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles center Jamaal Jackson was excused from practice all this week with what the team said were "personal reasons."
The team hadn't said what those reasons were, but Sal Paolantonio of ESPN reports (via PFT) that Jackson was home because his brother was killed by a drunk driver in Miami on Sunday. Jackson knew of his brother's death on Monday but decided to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Immediately following the game against the Cowboys, Jackson flew to Florida to be with his family all week. The funeral was today, and several of Jackson's teammates flew down to Florida to be there with him. They are all flying back to Philadelphia tonight, and Jackson will play in the Eagles' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
It's obviously been an extremely trying week for Jackson. But he became the Eagles' starter midway through the 2005 season and has started every game since, and he will continue to start every game for his team.
