Casserly boldly predicted on WIP-AM (610) last week that diminutive DeSean Jackson will someday be the Eagles' No. 1 wideout, despite his barely 5-foot-10 frame.

After watching Jackson work underneath coverages against the Steelers defense on Friday night, there's little doubt the Eagles' rookie from California can take some shots and even more evidence he's not afraid to use those shake-'n'-bake moves that won him national acclaim in college.

"When the ball is in my hands, I'm capable of doing some great things," Jackson said after a 16-10, preseason-opening loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field. "I'm willing to do anything to help this football team. It's a great team here. A lot of great players. I'm just the exception and trying to fit in."

The fit on passes from Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb looked pretty good for exhibition play, according to veteran receiver Greg Lewis.

"I'm excited about seeing DeSean play a lot," Lewis said. "When he gets the ball in his hands, he looks like he can do a lot of things. He caught one pass, did a spin move and spun away from some people. It was electrifying for me because I know I can't do it, so it was pretty cool to watch it."

Preseason is a time to have some fun, work out the kinks in the game plan, and get comfortable for the regular-season grind ahead. Jackson seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself. He caught five passes for 51 yards, had far less success on punt returns - three for 3 yards - but made a good showing.

"It was sweet for me," Jackson said. "A great opportunity for me to get out there and get some balls from Donovan and go with the rest of the guys and have some fun. It was awesome. Just the environment, it was great. It's a big opportunity for me to come into the NFL and play with a great team like this."

Neither the Eagles nor the Steelers unveiled a lot of gadgets, although McNabb did use Jackson as a decoy (reverse) on a running play to Correll Buckhalter in the opening quarter.

"Just a fake reverse to catch the defense off guard a little bit," Jackson laughed. "One of those kind of trick plays. Whatever I have to do to help this team out and be successful I'll do."

The open-field moves were more impressive although Jackson simply couldn't get off the mark on punt returns. One return in the third quarter went for an 8-yard loss because he doubled back to find open space that didn't exist. Coach Andy Reid said after the game he thought Jackson came close to breaking at least one punt.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said that it's going to take Jackson a little time to see the hole and get to it quickly on punts.

"He did some nice things and he's got a couple of things he has to correct," Mornhinweg said. "He made some plays but he has to be a little sharper and crisper on a couple of things we did out there. That goes for everybody. You saw his hands and the way he can run routes. He is very good at [making moves]."

Jackson set a Pac-10 record with six punt returns for a touchdown in college. He admitted he wanted to break one in the opener.

"The looks were awesome," he said. "The biggest thing for me right now is experience. The more experience I get, the more comfortable I'll be, and the better I will do it. I just keep working hard.

"I was trying to relax. You always try to make good plays but the guys on the other team want to make plays, too. You wait till your time comes. You want to take it to the house. You go as much as you can. Every time I had the ball in my hands, that is what I was thinking. I was patient and I'll wait.

"In college, [the return is] there. You get a little more time to get off. It's there. I can adjust to it. It's no big thing."

Lorenzo Booker, who did not return kickoffs as a Dolphin, looked very solid against the Steelers doing just that with three returns for 65 yards. Booker lauded Jackson's performance.

"I really think people got to see how much of an addition DeSean can be this year," Booker said. "DeSean played better than a lot of people expected. He had that little hamstring issue [in camp] and you never got to see that go route where he exploded on people. But the catches [he made] over the middle and the patience he showed for his first NFL game, you got to be excited. That guy is going to be used in a lot of different ways."