This past week, the Chargers finalized a trade with the Patriots that sent J.C. Jackson home for a 6th and 7th-round pick swap in the 2025 NFL draft. After Jackson was announced as a healthy scratch against the Vikings in Week 3, the relationship between him and the Bolts seemingly ended. Jackson questioned the decision publicly, stating that he was “confused” about why he was benched for the game.
Recently, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero disclosed that Jackson’s lack of field time against the Raiders in Week 4 was not due to soreness or snap limitation but was Jackson refusing to play. Multiple coaches stepped in to try and convince Jackson to go into the game when fellow teammate Michael Davis was banged up, but Jackson would not go in and kept giving the coaches excuses as to why he couldn’t play, saying that he wasn’t “warm enough.” Jackson was suited up, ready to take the field, but sat on the sideline while Davis played through an ankle injury all game and toughed it out for 72 of 73 snaps.
On paper, the Chargers have been more successful defensively when Jackson was off the field – so a trade after these issues was the obvious choice to keep the team chemistry positive on the sideline and locker room. On top of this, the state of Massachusetts issued an arrest warrant for Jackson after he failed to appear in court for a speeding incident in 2022, and the Chargers do not take legal problems lightly – no matter how small they may be.
Jackson’s trade to the Patriots should not only help the Chargers defensively but also set the standard in Los Angeles. The Chargers don’t care whether you’re a star or a rookie – they will do what they must to keep the momentum moving forward.
