PHILADELPHIA -- Marlin Jackson's surgically repaired knees didn't scare off the Eagles.
Still looking to replace Brian Dawkins, the team is taking a chance on Jackson. It signed the free-agent defensive back to a two-year contract Wednesday, but didn't disclose financial terms.
Eagles paying Vick his bonus
Michael Vick said Tuesday that the Eagles have exercised their 2010 option on him, meaning he'll receive a $1.5 million roster bonus sometime this week.
A 2005 first-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson is coming off two season-ending knee injuries. He missed the second half of 2008 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and returned in 2009 before tearing the ACL in his left knee during a November practice.
Jackson has played cornerback most of his career, but he will have a chance to win the starting free safety job in Philadelphia.
"Nothing is promised," Jackson said. "I have to earn it. I played free safety my junior year at college and started eight games there my second year in the NFL. I'm very comfortable in it. I always played a physical corner. Physicality is nothing new to me. I'm very instinctive and aggressive. I can bring a lot of positives."
Since letting Dawkins, a potential Hall of Famer, leave for the Denver Broncos in free agency last year, the Eagles had issues at free safety. They tried second-year pro Quintin Demps, rookie Victor Harris and veteran Sean Jones at that position in 2009.
Jackson had 284 tackles and four interceptions in 56 career games with the Colts. He visited the Baltimore Ravens before coming to Philadelphia and was scheduled to meet with the New York Jets.
"The most appealing thing is this is a winning franchise," Jackson said. "That's important to me. I came from a winning franchise. The opportunity to play free safety is very appealing. This defense is very aggressive."
Despite the knee injury, Jackson expects to be ready for the season. The Eagles already have middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and tight end Cornelius Ingram returning from ACL surgeries. They gave free-agent offensive lineman Stacy Andrews a big contract last year after he had ACL surgery, but he couldn't crack the starting lineup.
"I'm a positive person and I know how hard I work each and every day," Jackson said. "I know what it takes to come back from an ACL. I've done it once already."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
