The New England Patriots are facing a significant absence in their Week 10 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany. All-Pro cornerback J.C. Jackson is expected to remain in New England, with the team citing concerns about his reliability and the need for a “mental reset.”
#Patriots CB JC Jackson is not expected to travel with the team to Germany for their game against the #Colts, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. With questions about his reliability, the decision was made to have him stay home, get through the bye and return in a better place. pic.twitter.com/kNdbeI9RLs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2023
This move follows Jackson’s recent return to the Patriots from the Los Angeles Chargers in a trade that also involved draft picks. Jackson had signed a substantial five-year contract with the Chargers worth $82.5 million in the 2022 offseason. However, his performance took a hit during his tenure with the team. He was even benched during a Monday night game against the Denver Broncos and played just five games before a ruptured patellar tendon ended his season.
Jackson’s initial stint with the Patriots was highly successful, helping the team secure a Super Bowl 53 championship victory and earning Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honors in 2021. Despite a challenging start to the 2022 season, Jackson has displayed his ball-hawking skills with 17 interceptions over the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In his five games with the Patriots this season, Jackson has recorded three pass defenses and 14 combined tackles. Overall, throughout his 74-game NFL career, he boasts 26 interceptions and 61 pass defenses, making him one of the league’s standout ball-hawkers.