New England Patriots reacquire Cornerback J. C. Jackson from the Los Angeles Chargers

Posted by DavidGreen
Oct 05, 2023

Introduction

On Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 the New England Patriots agreed upon terms to a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for cornerback J. C. Jackson. The New England Patriots are shipping a 2025 6th - round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, who in return will send Jackson as well as a 2025 7th - round pick to the New England Patriots.

Contract Details

To facilitate this NFL blockbuster in - season trade, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers are now reworking Jackson's remaining $9.33 million salary for the 2023 - 2024 NFL season, with the New England Patriots covering around $1.5 million and the Los Angeles Chargers having to cover the rest of the money via a signing bonus. Jackson's current NFL contract, which runs through the 2026 - 2027 NFL season will stay intact otherwise.

The New England Patriots Secondary

Promising the New England Patriots rookie cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, the franchise's 1st - round pick this year, he suffered a serious shoulder injury during the New England Patriots 38 to 3 devastating loss to the Dallas Cowboys on last Sunday night. According to sources close to the New England Patriots Gonzalez has a torn labrum and he will be out of the team’s line - up indefinitely.

J. C. Jackson

J. C. recently signed a new 5 - year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers worth up to approximately $82.5 million last offseason following his 4 - previous seasons with the New England Patriots. During his final year in New England with the Patriots, Jackson was named as an NFL All - Pro, and he was 2nd in the National Football League with a total of 8 - interceptions. J. C. was never the same player with the Los Angeles Chargers. Instead, Jackson's time was scorched by legal troubles, injury, and under - performing play on the field.

Last year, Jackson enabled an NFL career - worst 149.3 - passer rating when targeted prior to him suffering a season - ending rupture to the patellar tendon in his right knee during the Los Angeles Chargers’ NFL week - 7 match - up. During this 2023 - 2024 NFL season so far J. C. is allowing a 72.0 - passer rating when targeted, the 2nd - worst of his career. During his final NFL season in New England with the Patriots Jackson allowed a 46.8 - passer rating which is obviously much better than his defense put forth with the Los Angeles Chargers.

It seemed that things may have been heading in this direction with J. C. and the Los Angeles Chargers when Jackson was a healthy inactive for the very 1st - time since his NFL rookie season in the Los Angeles Chargers' week - 3 contest versus the Minnesota Vikings. When the Los Angeles Chargers signed J. C. over the last NFL offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Brandon Staley, said the goal was to have Jackson shadow his opposing teams' number - 1 wide receivers. Although the Los Angeles Chargers were playing one of the NFL’s top pass - catchers in the league in Justin Jefferson, Jackson happened to be inactive.

In the days following that football game, J. C. said he was "confused" by him getting benched, and that he still was not even 100 % healthy.

Over the course of the Los Angeles Chargers' next game, last Sunday, October 1st, 2023 against another one of the NFL's best wide receivers in Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Jackson was active although he did not ultimately play a snap in that match - up. Jackson had to watch from the sideline for the 2nd - consecutive week, but this time in full uniform, as the Los Angeles Chargers picked up their 2nd - win of the season without him.

The now 27 - year - old J. C., played 7 - games total over the course of 2 - NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, and he had only 1 - interception. Jackson had 25 - interceptions in his initial 4 - NFL seasons with the New England Patriots.

"He had great years when he was here. I'm excited to see him back in a Patriot uniform. When he does get back in the building, it will be exciting," the New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai expressed.

The New England Patriots quarterback, Mac Jones, stated, "Great player. Obviously, he taught me a lot my rookie year. He is very unique -- fast, aggressive, very good knack for the ball."

Playing his Old Team

The New England Patriots play the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, October 8th, 2023 and on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023 when the New England Patriots eventually will play the Los Angeles Chargers, giving J. C. a big opportunity to face - off against his old team.