PRESS BOX: Eagles expected to part ways with Jackson

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson does not expect to be with the team this season, according to reports.

The New York Daily News reported Saturday that the Eagles want to part with him, quoting a source as saying they are "trading him or cutting him. That's a fact. They don't want him."

Philadelphia Magazine reported Friday that two sources close to Jackson said the wide receiver believes his days with the Eagles are over.

The Philadelphia Enquirer also referred to a pair of sources who said Jackson, 27, will be dealt to another team.

"He's as good as gone," one source close to Jackson told the Enquirer. Another source estimated that Jackson has less than a 5 percent chance of remaining with the Eagles.

The Carolina Panthers are among the teams the Eagles have contacted about possibly dealing Jackson, according to the Charlotte Observer.

After the Panthers lost their top four wide receivers from last season, they signed Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year, $5 million deal and agreed to terms with Tiquan Underwood. But neither are top-performing wide receivers.

Steve Smith was released, and Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon were lost to free agency.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler, made 82 receptions for 1,332 yards and scored nine touchdowns last year for the Eagles. He has at least 900 receiving yards in five of his six NFL seasons.

The Panthers have about $5 million in salary cap space. However, Jackson is due to make $10.5 million in 2014.

Carolina could still clear cap space to acquire Jackson. The Observer suggested the team could give defensive end Greg Hardy a long-term deal that would spread out his cap hit. The Panthers franchised him earlier this month for $13.1 million this year. However, the newspaper reported the team has made no plans to extend Hardy.

Other possibilities include restructuring the contracts of defensive end Charles Johnson or safety Charles Godfrey to reduce their cap figures.

Jackson, known around the league as a diva, could be a turnoff for the Panthers. Smith, the franchise's all-time leading receiver, was reportedly released partly because general manager Dave Gettleman viewed him as a distraction. According to the Observer, if the Panthers cut ties with Smith because of his personality, they would definitely have reservations about bringing in Jackson.

The New England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are among the other teams reportedly interested in Jackson.

CBS Sports reported that the 49ers and Seahawks would have a difficult time acquiring Jackson due to their salary cap limitations.

NBA

Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Garnett will miss at least three more games because of back spasms, ESPNNewYork.com reported Saturday.

Garnett, who has missed 11 straight games, was scheduled to be re-evaluated Saturday.

The Nets begin a three-game road trip Sunday at the Dallas Mavericks. Then, Brooklyn visits the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

The earliest Garnett could return is March 28 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Nets are coming off a 114-98 victory Friday over Garnett's former team, the Boston Celtics. Brooklyn is 9-2 without Garnett during this stretch.

For the season, the Nets are 11-7 without Garnett.

---Denver Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson is out for the season after being diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Hickson was injured in the fourth quarter of Friday night's 122-106 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

A date for his surgery is pending.

Hickson averaged 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 69 games (52 starts) in his first season with Denver.

CBK

Kansas freshman center Joel Embiid will not play Sunday's NCAA Tournament game against Stanford, according to ESPN.com.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Embiid was ruled out because he is still recovering from a back injury.

Embiid missed the last two regular-season games and the Big 12 tournament.

If Kansas reaches the regional semifinals next week, Self said Embiid will be questionable to play. The Jayhawks, a No. 2 seed, defeated Eastern Kentucky on Friday night without Embiid.

The 7-footer averaged 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds this season before sustaining a lower back injury during conference play and then aggravated it late in the season. He last played March 1. He went to Los Angeles earlier this month to visit a back specialist.

Embiid is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft if he leaves school early.

CFB

Navy sophomore running back Will McKamey collapsed during spring practice on Saturday and was airlifted to a hospital at the University of Maryland.

McKamey's mother released a statement on her Facebook page.

"Will is currently on the operating table; they have had to do a cranial surgery to relieve the blood clot in his brain," she wrote. "We are overcome with worry but we are relying on God to bring us through this. We are on the plane now and headed to Baltimore."

McKamey also was airlifted to a hospital after collapsing on the field during a 2012 game when he was in high school. He did not have surgery, but the episode ended his senior season.

McKamey, who was named Mr. Football in Tennessee that year, did not have a carry his freshman season at Navy in 2013.