What happened to Drake Jackson? 49ers place Safety on PUP list, ending his season early

According to NBC Sports, the San Francisco 49ers have placed Drake Jackson on the franchise's reserve/physically unable to perform list. The development effectively ends Jackson's 2024 season.

The third-year pro was expected to make a jump in the 2024 season and support Nick Bosa in the 49ers' pass rush. However, he will now be focused on recovery ahead of the 2024 season. Jackson's loss is painful for last season's beaten Super Bowl finalists.

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Drake Jackson's 2023 was ended by injury

Drake Jackson has not had the best of luck with injuries since entering the NFL in 2022.

The USC Trojans product dealt with knee and quadriceps issues throughout his sophomore season. He was eventually placed on the injury reserve and underwent surgery to repair a left patellar injury.

Due to Jackson's injury, the 49ers will rely on one or more of Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos and Alex Barrett to partner Nick Bosa in the sack department. The franchise's fan base will hope for better luck with injuries in the preseason.

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What's next for Jackson and the 49ers?

Now that he has been ruled out for the season, Drake Jackson will solely focus on his recovery. Speaking on Jackson's injury issues, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said:

"Anytime you do that type of surgery that he had ... those are big surgeries. They are tough to come back from. You never know how they are going to react. We always know it's a possibility to take a long time, and it is taking a long time."

Hence, it looks like the 49ers are aware of Jackson's unpredictable recovery time frame and have decided to rule him out for the season.

The San Francisco 49ers enter 2024 with high expectations and a stacked roster. They had the best record in the NFC in 2023 and dominated opponents with Pro Bowl-caliber talent. San Francisco ended the year with a 12-5 record as it blitzed its way to the Super Bowl game.

However, Kyle Shanahan's side eventually fell short to reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs. The game was close but left Shanahan searching for his first Super Bowl ring with the 49ers.

The 49ers, though, remain the franchise to beat in the NFC due to their phenomenal attack, stingy defense and elite coaching staff. Their 2024 regular-season campaign starts against the New York Jets and ends against the Arizona Cardinals. Brock Purdy and Co. will hope to bring a title to San Francisco in 2024.