Chargers eager to see what impact Jackson will have

San Diego is eagerly anticipating the return of WR Vincent Jackson, who will play -- and start -- in his first game this season when the Chargers face the Colts on Sunday night.

Yet a looming question remains. How big of an impact can he make?

Vincent Jackson says he's ready to go, but rust might keep him from making a major impact at first. (Getty Images)

Coach Norv Turner is among those excited about Jackson's return.

"Vincent is one of the hardest working guys that we have ever had here," Turner said. "I think the fact that he has had three good weeks of practice, he's going to be ready to play at a high level."

Jackson has approached practice with enthusiasm, and he has looked sharp. He has frequently run fast, tight routes, and he has demonstrated his usual sure hands. But Turner warns against setting expectations too high.

"Everybody is expecting some big explosion," Turner said. "To me, it's the production that he has over the next six weeks."

The excitement surrounding Jackson's return may be tarnished by the fact that his contract dispute was long and nasty. Based on his performance last season, where he caught 68 passes for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns to establish career-highs in each category, Jackson and his agents sought a multiyear extension in the neighborhood of $50 million over five years. That would have put him on par with the league's top receivers.

But Chargers general manager A.J. Smith didn't go for it, which was undoubtedly due in part to Jackson's off-the-field incidents -- among them two DUIs -- and the immaturity he has shown at times on the field. In last season's playoff loss to the Jets, he kicked a challenge flag, resulting in a costly 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Controlling Jackson's rights through this season, Smith only offered a one-year, $3.27 million tender contract. Jackson refused to sign. Smith played hard ball by reducing the offer to $583,000, a 10 percent increase of Jackson's 2009 salary.

Jackson threatened to sit out the season, but the NFL Players Association advised him that he had to play at least six games this year to qualify for free agency next season. So Jackson signed a reduced contract prorated for the last six games of the season and then waited out the three-game suspension imposed by Smith for failing to sign before August 20.

Will Jackson be 100 percent devoted to giving it his all for a team that didn't provide him with the contract he wanted? He says yes.

"I'm excited to play the rest of the season," says Jackson, who has been working with trainers in Arizona since April. "I'm here to play football, I love to play, and I'm not looking back."

Smith said, "We expect Vincent to contribute to our offense as he has in the past. However, it might take him a little time to get used to game speed once again. He has always worked hard and prepared well. He has been here for three weeks already and looks in great shape."

However things turn out, Jackson says he's happy now to be back with his teammates.

"The last three weeks of practicing with these guys have been amazing," he said. "I love being here. I have never asked to be anywhere else. This is where I wanted to be, and this has been home for me since Day 1. I'm excited to put on that jersey."