The Sports Xchange

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins need wide receiver DeSean Jackson back on the field.

The running game is struggling because teams don’t have to respect a deep threat at wide receiver and can commit extra players near the line of scrimmage. The offense is much too reliant on long, exhausting drives that are difficult to sustain against NFL defenses. And younger Redskins receivers — Ryan Grant, Jamison Crowder — are being put in more prominent roles than expected.

“DeSean certainly provides an element down field that’s unique and it’s a strength of his to go down field and track the football,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “Having him back will make a difference.”

Whether Jackson will actually play this Sunday against the New York Jets remains uncertain. Jackson injured his left hamstring in the season opener Sept. 13 against the Miami Dolphins. He returned to the practice field last week and Wednesday did some more work.

But he has yet to go full speed and, while frustrated that Jackson is at the tail end of his 3-to-4 week timeline to return, Washington is reluctant to push him onto the field until he is close to 100 percent. Anything less than that and Jackson could re-injure the hamstring and be lost for most of the season.

“Man, it’s hard to really say,” Jackson said when asked if he expected to play against New York. “I’m a speed guy with a hamstring injury. I would like to say yes, but it’s one of those things that will just have to play out. Right now, I feel like I’m in pretty good shape.”

Jackson had played in 31 of his previous 32 games before the Miami injury. He caught 56 passes in his first season with Washington for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers scare opposing cornerbacks. No matter what happens against the Jets, Jackson is expected to be ready for the Oct. 25 home game vs. Tampa Bay.

“I feel like I’m at that point now where I’m ready to be able to be out there and get things accomplished and get things done,” Jackson said. “We’ll see how the week goes and hopefully I’ll be ready for Sunday.”

SERIES HISTORY: 11th regular-season meeting. Redskins lead series 8-2. The Jets won the last game between the two teams 34-19 on Dec. 4, 2011, at FedEx Field. But Washington won all four road games at New York, including a 23-20 overtime win in 2007. The Redskins just played at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 24 when they faced the New York Giants in a 32-21 loss.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Redskins WR Pierre Garcon, who leads his team with 27 receptions, vs. Jets CB Darrelle Revis, who — as WR DeSean Jackson noted this week — has his own island. Garcon plays with a physical edge that overwhelms smaller corners, but Revis is more than capable of matching.

Jets RB Chris Ivory vs. Redskins NT Terrance Knighton. Atlanta had success attacking the edge in the running game against Washington. Ivory is a bigger back (314 rushing yards) capable of pounding the ball up the middle. But Knighton, at 354 pounds, is a massive presence who requires double teams.