With receiver Jeremy Maclin still questionable because of shoulder and hamstring injuries, Jackson has become even more valuable than usual. He showed it against the Giants with six catches for 88 yards and a 51-yard punt return that set up the Eagles' first touchdown.
Jackson was benched on Nov. 13 because he was late for a meeting. He acknowledged the day after the loss to Arizona that his contract situation - he wants an extension - has not made him the happiest of campers.
"This whole week he was quite focused," Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said.
With Jackson, the Eagles sometimes have to take the bad with the good. On Sunday night, after he caught a 50-yard pass near the New York sideline, he flipped the football into the stomach of Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
The indiscretion drew a personal foul.
"DeSean gets juiced up now," Mornhinweg said. "However, he's got to be above that."
Reid also said that he wasn't happy with Jackson's taunt, but he was pleased with his attitude.
Others weren't as kind.
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee, for instance, called Jackson a "punk" on Twitter. In another tweet, Scobee wrote: "Relax people. He's just a punk, which to me means he doesn't respect anyone or anything around him. Therefore, I don't respect him."
Scobee later apologized.
Explaining the penalty
Jackson's penalty nullified the 50-yard completion even though it was a dead-ball foul. Because Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph was called for illegal use of the hands on the play, the officials ruled that the penalties were offsetting and the down was replayed.
Many, including Reid, believed that the Eagles should have been allowed to decline the Giants penalty and that Jackson's personal foul for taunting should have been assessed after the gain.
"It doesn't make sense," Reid said.
