"jerks back" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used in the context of a sudden or abrupt motion. Example: When the startled cat saw the dog, it jerked back in surprise.
When a single shot is heard, the camera veers back to Mr. Gonzalez, who jerks back, pummeled by bullets.
She pretends to wallop the side of her face so hard her head jerks back and her tongue lolls out.
As she gropes for it, she hits something, and with two sharp jolts, her head jerks back, then forward onto the steering wheel.
It is like that scene in Fatal Attraction when the drowned Glenn Close suddenly jerks back to life for one final, shocking moment.
When the man lurches forward, the chief delivers what appears to be a more aggressive second blow, aiming up and striking the man high on the shoulders, and possibly the face, as his head jerks back from the force.
You know what that is?" And then, before she has time to answer, he snakes out his other hand, the right one, and slaps her till she jerks back from the grip of him like an animal caught in the jaws of a trap.
"They get jerked back, and the football comes out.
Concussions happen when there is not only impact, but also movement, like jerking back and forth.
"What about morals?" I jerked back, like she'd slapped me.
The way you jerk back your hand from a hot skillet before you feel the scorch.
For just a second, you could be fooled, suddenly jerked back into the nightmare.
