DeSean Jackson hinted that he'll be the Eagles' primary punt returner this year.
New coach Chip Kelly made similar suggestions back in March. While the Andy Reid regime coddled Jackson, the new staff appears ready to put him in harm's way. Jackson's best skill may be as a punt returner, where he's averaged 10.5 yards in his career. The Eagles' other main option is Damaris Johnson.

DeSean Jackson is owed $10.25M in 2014 base salary.

DeSean Jackson believes the "sky's the limit" for his 2013 under new coach Chip Kelly.
"I think this year, with Chip coming in with the style of play of his offense, it's really going to help me out a lot more," Jackson said. "I'm going to be able to get certain looks, get the ball in my hand, do things I wasn't doing the past five years." Kelly has already hinted he's not planning to use Jackson in a De'Anthony Thomas-esque WR/RB combo role, so Jackson is banking on a big year at wideout. Jackson averaged just 63.9 receiving yards per game in 2011-12 after averaging 76.7 between 2009-10.

Coach Chip Kelly clarified that he does not see DeSean Jackson in the exact De'Anthony Thomas role.

Coach Chip Kelly hinted that he plans on using DeSean Jackson on punt returns this season.
Jackson returned just one punt last year, turning a $47M player into a mere situational deep threat. Kelley is a great bet to get much more out of D-Jax's dynamic speed and open-field ability. His career punt-return average of 10.5 yards would have ranked 10th in the league last year. It's another sign that Jackson will play the De'Anthony Thomas role in Kelley's scheme.

Philly Mag's Birds 24/7 blog agrees that DeSean Jackson is almost "guaranteed" to have a different role in new coach Chip Kelly's offense.
D-Jax expects to be used like Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas, as a dynamic all-purpose player who handles the football in four different ways. Beat writer Sheil Kapadia agrees that Jackson will no longer be strictly a deep threat; he'll see more action on screens and "could see touches out of the backfield as well." We'll know more about Jackson's role in camp and preseason games.

DeSean Jackson told reporters at the Super Bowl that new Eagles coach Chip Kelly has informed him he'll use Jackson like Kelly did De'Anthony Thomas, "The Black Momba," at Oregon.
Thomas racked up 701 rushing yards, 445 receiving yards, 389 kick return yards, 222 yards on punts, and 18 all-purpose touchdowns in 2012. "Kind of similar to what De'Anthony Thomas was doing at Oregon," Jackson said. "He's like a little brother to me. I actually talked to him. He was passing on information to me, like I'm going to be pumped up and psyched to be in that offense. It just keeps defenses off guard any time you go in motion, fake play-action, go down the field. There's just so many things you can do."

DeSean Jackson is "very excited about the opportunity" to play in Chip Kelly's offense.
"Just being in different positions in the offense, being able to come in to 2013 with a different look, no defense out there will have ever seen anything the Philadelphia Eagles have done," said Jackson. Usually we're spending time talking about Jackson's contract situation every offseason, but this winter Jackson is locked into a long-term deal and seems genuinely eager to get back on the field. Oregon didn't throw the ball a lot under Kelly, but we're high on Jackson and Jeremy Maclin moving forward.