The Los Angeles Chargers signed cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million contract ahead of the 2022 NFL season. And Just three weeks into the 2023 season and year two of his contract, the Chargers made Jackson a healthy scratch for the team’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
In 2022, Jackson struggled before suffering a season-ending torn patellar tendon in Week 7. After totaling 17 interceptions over 2020-21 with the New England Patriots, Jackson had zero in five games with the Chargers in 2022. He had a league-high 23 pass deflections in 2021 before having just two pass deflections with the Chargers in 2022.
After a tumultuous tenure in Los Angeles, Jackson will be returning to New England. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Patriots were trading for the embattled Chargers cornerback. New England and Los Angeles will swap 2025 sixth and seventh-rounders, according to Rapoport.
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Sources: The #Patriots are trading for #Chargers CB JC Jackson. A reunion! The compensation is a swap of late-round picks. Back where he started. pic.twitter.com/7h0A7iJcJS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2023
While Jackson was active for the team’s Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the trade comes at an interesting time.
According to MassLive‘s Chris Mason, an arrest warrant was issued in Massachusetts a few weeks ago for Jackson. Per Mason, the arrest warrant comes after the 27-year-old didn’t appear for a probation violation hearing in Attleboro District Court on Friday. Jackson was originally arrested and charged with criminal speeding in 2021 and has allegedly violated the terms of his probation by failing to complete the “Brains At Risk” program he was ordered to take and has yet to pay a $300 fine.
The Patriots had a need at the cornerback position with first-round pick Christian Gonzalez out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. It’s interesting that they would opt for Jackson, considering his price tag, albeit he is familiar with the defense. It remains to be seen if New England will be footing the bill for the 2021 Second-Team All-Pro.
[MassLive]
