The Patriots have reacquired cornerback J.C. Jackson from the Chargers.
The Patriots have reacquired cornerback J.C. Jackson from the Chargers.
The New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to a trade involving cornerback J.C. Jackson. The Patriots will be sending a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Chargers, who, in return, will send Jackson and a 2025 seventh-round pick to New England. To facilitate this trade, the two teams are working on Jackson’s remaining 2023 salary, with the Patriots covering approximately $1.5 million and the Chargers handling the remainder as a signing bonus. Jackson’s contract, which extends through the 2026 season, will remain otherwise unchanged.
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The promising rookie cornerback for the Patriots, Christian Gonzalez, their first-round pick this year, sustained a shoulder injury during New England’s 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. According to a source, Gonzalez has a torn labrum and is expected to be out indefinitely.
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J.C. Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5 million deal with the Chargers last offseason after spending four seasons with the Patriots. During his final year in New England, Jackson earned All-Pro honors and ranked second in the NFL with eight interceptions. However, his performance with the Chargers did not match his previous success, as he encountered legal issues, injuries, and disappointing play.
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Last season, Jackson allowed a career-worst 149.3 passer rating when targeted before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon rupture in his right knee in Week 7. This season, Jackson has allowed a passer rating of 72.0 when targeted, the second-worst of his career. In his last season with New England, he allowed a passer rating of 46.8.
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Signs of discord between Jackson and the Chargers became apparent when he was a healthy scratch for the first time since his rookie season in the Chargers’ Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Coach Brandon Staley had initially planned for Jackson to shadow opposing teams’ No. 1 receivers when they signed him last offseason. However, even when facing top-tier receivers like Justin Jefferson, Jackson remained inactive.
Following that game, Jackson expressed confusion about the benching and revealed that he was not yet fully healthy. In the Chargers’ subsequent game against Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, another elite receiver, Jackson was active but did not play a single snap. He watched from the sidelines for the second consecutive week, this time in uniform, as the Chargers secured their second victory without him.
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Jackson, 27 years old, played a total of seven games in his two seasons with the Chargers and recorded just one interception. In his first four NFL seasons with the Patriots, he had 25 interceptions.
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Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai expressed excitement about Jackson’s return to a Patriot uniform, emphasizing his past accomplishments with the team. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones also praised Jackson, describing him as a great player who had a significant impact on his development during his rookie year.
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The Patriots are scheduled to face the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, with a matchup against the Chargers on December 3, providing Jackson with an opportunity to face his former team.
