SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 05: A view of the logo during ESPN The Party on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN)ESPN analyst Tom Jackson hasn’t played football since 1986, but apparently that hasn’t stopped him from picking up NFL-caliber injuries.
On Wednesday, ESPN PR released a statement that Jackson will miss this week’s edition of NFL PrimeTime due to an Achilles injury. In his absence, ESPN analyst Ryan Clark will work alongside Chris Berman for the show.
“Tom Jackson will miss this week’s ‘NFL PrimeTime’ show on ESPN+ due to an Achilles injury. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return. Ryan Clark will substitute for TJ this week, alongside Chris Berman.”
Berman and Jackson began working together on NFL PrimeTime in 1987, following his retirement from the Denver Broncos the year before. The two worked together until 2007, and Jackson retired in 2016.
But Jackson returned from retirement earlier this year, and reunited with Berman several weeks ago for a digital-only version of NFL PrimeTime.
ESPN statement on Tom Jackson:
"Tom Jackson will miss this week's 'NFL PrimeTime' show on ESPN+ due to an Achilles injury. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return. Ryan Clark will substitute for TJ this week, alongside Chris Berman." pic.twitter.com/CrCYURqZfS
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 2, 2019
Jackson was a star linebacker for the Broncos, earning three Pro Bowls and induction into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1992.
But he has garnered just as many accolades as a broadcaster, including the prestigious Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2015.
There’s no word yet on whether ESPN will place Jackson on short-term IR or not.
Get well soon, Tom!
