J.C. Jackson

Latest On Chargers’ J.C. Jackson

September 8th, 2022 at 2:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers made a number of headline-grabbing defensive additions this offseason, including a big-money signing for cornerback J.C. Jackson. It appears unlikely that his Los Angeles debut will take place this Sunday, however.

Jackson had surgery performed on his ankle last month, a somewhat surprising procedure given the lack of injury concerns dating back to his Patriots tenure. As a result, Jackson’s Week 1 availability was placed in doubt despite the team’s insistence that it was not made necessary by an ailment.

When speaking to the media recently, general manager Tom Telesco confirmed via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper (subscription required) that the vaguely-defined ankle issue sprung up during training camp and was unrelated to his four years in New England.

“He never had any problems with it before” Telesco added, when asked about Jackson’s physical taken around the time of his free agent signing. “You don’t X-ray and MRI every single joint, but you do for the ones that have had issues earlier.” Regarding the decision to have the surgery done, he said, “We didn’t wait; it just started bothering [Jackson]. Just decided it was bothering him too much.”

The terms of his contract – five years, $82.5MM with $40MM guaranteed – made Jackson one of the top defensive players to change teams in March, and a key part of the Chargers’ heavy investments on that side of the ball. The league’s top ballhawk since his career began in 2018, the 26-year-old racked up 25 interceptions and 53 pass breakups with the Patriots.

The start to his Chargers tenure will probably need to wait at least one more week due to the recovery timeline of the surgery, though. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirms (via Twitter), Jackson should be available “soon,” but Week 1 would be an unrealistic target. In his absence, Los Angeles will likely turn to a starting trio of Michael Davis along with Asante Samuel Jr. and Bryce Callahan against the Raiders.

Bolts’ J.C. Jackson Undergoes Ankle Surgery

August 24th, 2022 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 24: Providing further context on the matter, head coach Brandon Staley explained that the procedure was not undertaken to heal an injury. “It’s more of a comfort level when he will decelerate at times. It’s just more about his peace of mind moving forward, to do it now… He tried the rehab part of it and an injection and he just felt like if we can get this thing done that he’s going to be full speed and there’s no turning back. And again, I can’t state it enough, there’s not an injury with his ankle” (Twitter links via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper).

AUGUST 23: The Chargers may be without their well-paid cornerback acquisition to start the season. J.C. Jackson underwent ankle surgery Tuesday in New York.

The former Patriots corner faces a two- to four-week recovery timetable, making him iffy for the Bolts’ regular-season opener. No roster move involving Jackson will be made until the team sets its 53-man squad, though it is unlikely — barring a setback — Jackson will need to be placed on IR to start the season. This procedure can be categorized as a scope, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Jackson left New England for Los Angeles after the Bolts authorized a five-year, $82.5MM deal. That pact came with $40MM fully guaranteed and $28MM in Year 1. The former UDFA has intercepted 17 passes over the past two seasons; his 23 passes defensed led the league in 2021. Jackson also closed his Patriots career having not missed a game over the past three seasons.

This year’s Bolts season starts off with key games. The Chargers open the season against the Raiders and then travel to Kansas City for a Thursday-night game in Week 2. Not having Jackson against a reloaded Raiders offense or against perennial MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes would certainly test the Chargers, though L.A. does have some returning starters at the position.

Michael Davis is the frontrunner to be the team’s outside corner starter opposite Jackson, having moved ahead of former second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. for that gig. Jackson’s injury opens the door to a configuration of Davis, Samuel and slot Bryce Callahan. The latter’s rampant injury troubles also make Samuel a candidate to see slot duty.

Chargers Rumors: RT, Davis, Palmer

July 30th, 2022 at 3:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Chargers offensive line is almost perfectly set for the regular season. They return the left-side trio of tackle Rashawn Slater, guard Matt Feiler, and center Corey Linsley, who were all very impressive in the same roles last year. They used their first-round pick this year to fill the right guard spot with rookie guard Zion Johnson out of Boston College.

The right tackle position is currently a battle between last year’s starter Storm Norton and reserve lineman Trey Pipkins III. Norton has vastly outperformed his undrafted status, but does leave something to be desired at the position. The Chargers are really hoping, though, that Pipkins will live up to his third-round draft stock from three years ago, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

Pipkins spent the offseason working out with Duke Manyweather, who works with offensive lineman in Dallas. Los Angeles will hope that Pipkins will be able to make the leap and take over the starting right tackle job to fill in their ideal offensive line. If not, they will likely rely again on Norton and focus any blocking help directly to that side of the line.

Here are a few other notes on position battles the Chargers face going into the preseason, according to Popper:

Cornerback Michael Davis is heading into his sixth year with the Chargers. After spending his first season and a half as a rotational cornerback in the Chargers defense, Davis took hold of a starting job and didn’t relinquish it. Not until this preseason, that is. With the free agent additions of Bryce Callahan and J.C. Jackson, Davis is facing some serious competition for his starting job. As training camp begins, it appears the Chargers have been running with Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr. on the first-team with Callahan coming in as the first option for nickel packages. It’s great news for the Chargers depth at cornerback, but tough for Davis who hasn’t been a backup since 2018.
With wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen set to return as quarterback Justin Herbert‘s top two receiving options, the question rises of who comes in as the third receiver. Los Angeles didn’t make any moves to acquire a new receiving threat this offseason, mainly due to the belief they hold that Josh Palmer will make a significant leap in his second NFL season. As a rookie, Palmer caught 33 balls (third-best for receivers on the team) for 353 yards (fourth-best for receivers on the team). The Chargers will continue to use running back Austin Ekeler‘s receiving abilities in the passing game and, after losing Jared Cook to free agency, they brought in Gerald Everett to start at tight end. But they hope to see Palmer really step up as a wide out so that they can terrorize opposing defenses with a three-headed monster of a receiving corps.

Chargers To Sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

March 14th, 2022 at 7:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Sebastian Joseph-Day is switching teams, but he won’t have to move all that far. The former Rams defensive tackle is signing with the Chargers, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

It’s a three-year deal worth $24MM, including $15MM in guaranteed money.

The 2018 sixth-round pick had spent his entire career with the Rams. After being inactive for every game during his rookie campaign, the defensive tackle established himself as a consistent starter between 2019 and 2021. The defensive tackle started 31 games during his sophomore and junior year, and he started another seven games in 2021. He missed the second half of the campaign while dealing with a torn pectoral, but he managed to return in time to play in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory.

In total, he finished last season with 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a career-high three sacks.

The Chargers are loading up on defense. The team has been one of the most active teams, adding Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, and Austin Johnson.

Chargers To Sign CB J.C. Jackson

March 14th, 2022 at 3:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:55pm: The Chargers will get their priority target. Jackson is signing with the Bolts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This promises to be a monster deal for the young corner, who stands to help a Chargers defense that stumbled down the stretch. The Bolts have been aggressive entering Herbert’s third year, trading for Mack and agreeing to terms with one of the top free agents on the market.

Los Angeles authorized a five-year, $82.5MM contract for Jackson, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The ex-Patriot will see $40MM fully guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Bolts did not need to give Jackson top-five corner money, it turns out. This checks in as the NFL’s sixth-highest cornerback pact. To entice Jackson, the Chargers have agreed to give him $28MM in the deal’s first year, Rapoport adds (on Twitter).

3:32pm: As expected, J.C. Jackson has received widespread interest during the legal tampering period. The Chargers are among the Pro Bowl cornerback’s suitors, and NFL.com’s Mike Giardi tweets the team has made an offer.

The Patriots made a somewhat surprising decision not to use their franchise tag on Jackson, who has intercepted an NFL-most 25 passes since coming into the league in 2018. Months after trading Stephon Gilmore, the Pats could lose another standout cover man.

Previously reported to have interest in Jackson, the Bolts can be aggressive this offseason. They entered free agency in the top five in cap space and have Justin Herbert tied to a rookie contract through at least 2022. Los Angeles has already added a splashy defender, trading for Khalil Mack last week. With Jackson hitting the open market at 26, it will likely cost close to cornerback-record money to sign him. Jalen Ramsey still tops the corner market at $20MM per year.

At corner, the Chargers have Michael Davis and 2021 second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. as key returners. Slot man Chris Harris is a free agent.

Pats Re-Sign Veteran DB Devin McCourty

March 13th, 2022 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Patriots are bringing back veteran defensive back Devin McCourty for another season, according to the twins’ joint-Twitter account earlier this evening. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the older twin will be returning on a one-year deal worth $9MM.

McCourty has started every game he’s ever played for the Patriots. Over his 12-year career, McCourty has appeared in 188 regular season games and 24 playoff games, only missing 5 games throughout his career. While he’s never quite matched the production of his rookie year when he intercepted 7 passes and broke up 17, he has long been a staple in the New England secondary, never failing to secure an interception in a season.

The Patriots tend to play three safeties and two corners on defense a lot of the time. Relying on J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills to lock down outside receivers, McCourty, Adrian Phillips, and Kyle Dugger are able to roam around and cover based on matchups and formations. The trio of safeties produced 11 interceptions between them, with Dugger coming on strong in his second season. The Patriots would love to see Dugger seamlessly step in when the 34-year-old McCourty decides to hang up the cleats.

With Jackson heading to the open market, the Patriots’ cornerbacks cupboard is looking pretty bare. Behind Mills is third-year corner Joejuan Williams and reserve corner Justin Bethel. McCourty’s experience at corner could be useful, but should be thought of as a last resort, as most corners move to safety in their advanced age, not the other way around. More likely the Patriots will look to the Draft and free agency to fill that hole.

Regardless, the Patriots bring back a leader. A durable one. He may not be able to produce on the field like he did in the 2010’s, but his role as the quarterback of the secondary makes him a valuable addition to the team’s 2022 defense.

Jets To Spend Big On Cornerback?

March 13th, 2022 at 1:04pm CST by Rory Parks

Jets GM Joe Douglas has stressed the importance of maintaining financial flexibility despite his club’s significant amount of cap space, and Brian Costello of the New York Post hears from several agents that Gang Green is unlikely to be a major player for this year’s top FAs. However, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (subscription required) are hearing something a bit different.

The ESPN scribes expect Douglas — who needs to demonstrate tangible progress in his fourth year at the top of the Jets’ front office — to make a few high-profile signings. Graziano confirms earlier reports that New York is interested in center Ryan Jensen, and he adds that the Jets are in on 49ers DT D.J. Jones. Tight end and safety are also priorities.

Fowler, meanwhile, reports that the Jets are prepared to “spend big” on a premier cornerback. J.C. Jackson is generally viewed as the best CB available, though Costello says New York is not expected to be involved in the bidding for Jackson. Carlton Davis, whom Spotrac believes is in line for a five-year pact worth roughly $100MM, could be an option after the Bucs opted against putting the franchise tag on him.

The Jets believe that their young collection of corners, which includes recent Day 3 draftees like Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, and Michael Carter II, have plenty of promise, but they clearly need a true CB1 to anchor the group. Jackson and Davis certainly fit the bill, though signing either player will put a damper on the flexibility that Douglas covets. Plus, as Costello observes, the Jets’ two top-10 draft choices will receive significant upfront signing bonuses, which will further limit the cash that Douglas has to throw around.

The Jets appear to be at least a year away from true contention, but again, Douglas may need to show some improvement to keep his job. That does not mean that he will spend wildly, but it’s probably fair to expect a little more activity than his recent comments on the matter would suggest.

AFC West Notes: Mathieu, Broncos, Raiders

March 7th, 2022 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

As expected, the Chiefs prioritized Orlando Brown Jr. as their top free agent. Kansas City tagged its left tackle, which will likely lead Tyrann Mathieu to free agency. It is not a lock Mathieu departs Missouri; the Chiefs met with his camp at the Combine. But the All-Pro safety is expected to test the market, Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mathieu will turn 30 this offseason, but he had a transformative effect on a Chiefs defense that was one of the NFL’s worst before his 2019 signing. The nine-year veteran should do very well for himself on the market. Mathieu’s Chiefs tenure re-established his value, with it coming after the Cardinals cut bait on his extension in 2018. The Honey Badger, who came to Kansas City after playing on a one-year deal in Houston in 2018, made two All-Pro teams on his three-year, $42MM Chiefs contract. Mathieu joins Marcus Williams and Quandre Diggs as the top safeties available. The Bengals tagged Jessie Bates on Monday, keeping him off the market.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

Brown will not sign his franchise tender until he decides on representation, and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets the four-year veteran is considering acting as his own agent. This should not be too surprising, given Brown’s quest to move away from right tackle and establish himself as a high-end left tackle. Brown will earn $16.662MM on the tag this season, unless he and the Chiefs agree to an extension by July 15. A Brown re-up would help the Chiefs on the cap front. While moves can be made, including another adjustment to Patrick Mahomes‘ team-friendly contract, the Chiefs are $5MM over the cap after Brown’s tag.
A Broncos–Aaron Rodgers trade would be quite costly, though Denver’s high volume of post-Peyton Manning quarterbacks does well to convey the team’s desperation here. A Denver deal for Rodgers would cost the team at least two first-round picks and a Pro Bowl-caliber player on a manageable contract, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes, adding that the Broncos should be prepared to give Rodgers a record-breaking extension like the Packers are. The Broncos should also be expected to include a second-round pick, Mike Klis of 9News writes. The Broncos have Jerry Jeudy and Bradley Chubb as potential trade chips in this scenario, while productive wideout Tim Patrick is tethered to a $10MM-per-year extension. Denver holds four Day 2 picks this year (two seconds, two thirds), the extra two coming by way of its Von Miller trade. Miller is on the radar to rejoin the team as a free agent.
With Justin Herbert tied to his rookie deal through at least 2022, the Chargers have an opportunity this offseason. They are a team to watch for a splashy cornerback addition, with Garafolo tweeting they could be in the mix for J.C. Jackson or Stephon Gilmore. The Patriots may actually be ready to let Jackson hit the market, and Rapoport notes (video link) Gilmore should be expected to test free agency after playing out his Patriots-constructed contract. The Panthers would still like to retain Gilmore, but it will be costly. Gilmore will turn 32 in September.
Ex-Josh McDaniels Patriots coworker Jerry Schuplinski is now on the Raiders‘ staff as a senior offensive assistant. A Pats staffer from 2013-18, Schuplinski was the Giants’ QBs coach the past two seasons. The Raiders have also hired ex-Jaguars DBs coach Chris Ash to the same position, added ex-Packers special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton as their assistant ST coach and hired Cameron Clemmons as their assistant O-line coach. Additionally, Las Vegas is keeping Jon Gruden‘s son, Deuce, on staff as a strength and conditioning assistant.

Latest On Patriots’ J.C. Jackson

March 1st, 2022 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

With one week remaining until the deadline for teams to apply the franchise tag, the situation with the Patriots and top cornerback J.C. Jackson remains up in the air. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, it is unlikely the team will apply the tag, unless a trade partner can be found.

Without a tag-and-trade option on the table for the Patriots, Reiss “rate[s] the odds of them tagging Jackson as low”. It was reported one week ago that the two sides hadn’t held talks for a new deal after the team’s playoff elimination. That would continue a trend that points towards the 26-year-old finding a new home in free agency. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recalls that during negotiations this past spring and fall, the two camps “weren’t in the same stratosphere” as each other.

For that reason, Breer concurs that New England’s likeliest usage of the tag – which will come in at a cost of $17.3MM – would be to facilitate a trade. If that kind of deal doesn’t materialize in the coming days, though, Jackson could become the next in a relatively long line of Patriots corners the team moves on from, rather than committing to with expensive second contracts.

Coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Jackson leads the NFL in interceptions over the past four seasons with 25. That total – not to mention 53 pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and impressive coverage stats during that span as well – should earn him a sizeable new deal on the open market should he reach free agency. Breer estimates the acquisition cost for an interested team to be a second round pick, which would most likely be followed by a medium- to long-term financial commitment to Jackson.

With limited time still remaining for the Patriots to make a deal, either with Jackson or another team, this situation is set to come to a head – and shape the rest of the team’s offseason in the process – soon.

No Talks Between Patriots, J.C. Jackson

February 22nd, 2022 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have let a few key cornerbacks walk in recent years. They made Darrelle Revis a one-and-done and did not re-sign Logan Ryan or Malcolm Butler. They traded Stephon Gilmore during his contract year. Now, New England has a decision to make on J.C. Jackson.

One of the NFL’s top ballhawks is less than a month from free agency, and the two-week franchise tag window opened Tuesday. Since the Pats’ wild-card loss, however, Jackson has not heard from the team regarding a new deal.

“I guess they feel like they don’t need me,” Jackson said, via Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. “I guess I can’t be that important to them. I know I am, but they’re not showing me. … Whatever happens happens. I’m taking it day by day. But it’s time for me to get paid. It’s time to get Mr. INT paid.”

The Pats did approach Jackson about an extension during the 2021 season, but the talented corner preferred to play out his contract year at that point. The Pats would like to retain Jackson, Perry adds, but have not determined how they will proceed with the tag. They kept Jackson via second-round RFA tender in 2021. The former UDFA finished last season with eight interceptions and an NFL-leading 23 pass breakups en route to his first Pro Bowl. Although Jackson struggled in the Pats’ playoff loss, he would be one of this year’s top free agents if allowed to hit the market.

Jackson, 26, has intercepted an NFL-most 25 passes over the past four seasons. After playing a part-time role for the Pats’ Super Bowl LIII-winning team, Jackson rose to a regular gig over the ensuing three seasons. The Pats parted ways with the likes of Gilmore and Jason McCourty during that time. Should Jackson leave in free agency, the perennially sound New England defense will feature a huge hole.

However, the Pats have not been shy on deploying the franchise tag under Bill Belichick. They have used the tag 10 times since 2002, with cornerback Asante Samuel (2007) being among those tagged. Samuel left in free agency in 2008. A Jackson tag is expected to cost approximately $17.3MM, per CBS Sports’ Joel Corry.

“I love the game,” Jackson said. “If they tag me, I’m gonna go out there and play.”

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