The Chargers traded cornerback J.C. Jackson back to the New England Patriots on Wednesday, according to multiple reports citing unnamed sources. Jackson began his NFL career with the Patriots before signing a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent deal with the Chargers in 2022.
In addition to trading Jackson, the Chargers also claimed cornerback Essang Bassey off waivers and waived defensive lineman Christopher Hinton. Bassey began the season with the Denver Broncos, playing four games and starting one. He spent part of the 2021 season with the Chargers.
In many ways, Jackson was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole with the Chargers. Coach Brandon Staley didn’t play him for a single down in the Chargers’ victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday after making him inactive for their Sept. 24 win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jackson said last week he was “confused” by his benching and acknowledged he wasn’t “100 percent” after a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation period following season-ending knee surgery to mend a torn right patellar tendon last Oct. 23. His training camp participation was limited.
“I kind of knew what was going on,” Jackson said last Thursday of being scratched for the Chargers’ game against the Vikings. “I’m still confused on why, but like I said, I can’t put my opinion on it. It was the coach’s decision. I can tell you I’m confused. I don’t know what’s going on, but that’s not the real answer of why I didn’t play last week or why I didn’t start. That’s above me.”
In the end, Jackson played only seven games over one-plus seasons with the Chargers, with one interception and 18 total tackles. He had 25 interceptions and 158 tackles in four seasons with the Patriots, earning the nickname “Mr. INT.” He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021.
Jackson was the Chargers’ highest-paid player this season with a guaranteed salary of $12 million plus a prorated bonus of $5 million, according to the website overthecap.com. In exchange for Jackson and a seventh-round pick in 2025, the Chargers received a sixth-round pick in ‘25.
The Chargers signed Jackson as part of an overhaul of their defense after they missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record in Staley’s first season as coach in 2021. They also acquired edge rusher Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears and signed defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-day from the Rams.
Jackson struggled to grasp Staley’s defensive concepts during their first training camp together and then underwent minor ankle surgery that prevented him from playing in the Chargers’ season-opening game against the Raiders. He made his debut in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He sat out a game in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the lineup for Week 4 against the Houston Texans and Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. He was in the starting lineup for a Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos, but he was benched for the second half.
Then, in Week 7, he ruptured his patellar tendon while defending a touchdown pass near the end of the first half of an Oct. 23 game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. He underwent season-ending surgery several days later, but was back quickly at the Chargers’ training facility to start his rehabilitation work.
Jackson was limited during spring practices and again when training camp began in Costa Mesa on July 27. He didn’t play in any of the Chargers’ three exhibition games, but he was in the starting lineup for a season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins in which he intercepted his first pass with the team. He also started the Chargers’ overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 17.
He never played another down for the Chargers.
“I’m not 100 percent,” he said last week. “I’m doing what I can.”
In addition to his on-field troubles, he also had a warrant issued for his arrest last month by police in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, over his failure to pay a $600 fine and attend a safe-driving class. He was pulled over for driving 100 mph in 2021 while a member of the Patriots.
Jackson said the matter had been resolved after “a miscommunication.”
