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Jay Gruden calls Eagles' decision to release DeSean Jackson 'a curious move'

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

DeSean Jackson was coming off a career year when he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a decision that puzzled many, including Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden.

"It was a curious move, yes. No question about it," Gruden said Wednesday, via CSNPhilly.com. "When you have someone who has that kind of production on a football team, to just let him go seems a little odd. But people have their reasons. 

"We have no idea why coach (Chip) Kelly and the Eagles organization did it. We just have to move forward with our decision to go after him and target a guy with that kind of speed and production. Talking to him and talking to his agent, we felt very comfortable about bringing him into our organization despite some of the reports that were out there."

Gruden said Washington did its research before signing Jackson, but added that signing him "wasn't a hard sell." He also insisted that "nothing negative" emerged about Jackson during the process.

"He's fun to be around," Gruden said. "I kind of like him."

Jackson is nursing a shoulder injury, but said he expects to play Sunday when Washington returns to his old stomping grounds.

In conversations with Washington reporters this week, Jackson said he has friends on the Eagles but there will be "no time" for "buddy-buddy" when the two teams square off.

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