J.C. Jackson Refused to Enter Final Game With Chargers, per Report

The cornerback reportedly declined to enter the Week 4 matchup because he wasn’t warm enough to play.

Before the Chargers traded J.C. Jackson to the Patriots on Wednesday, there was drama between the cornerback and his former team. Jackson refused to enter Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders despite being healthy enough to play, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. 

During the Week 4 matchup, Jackson repeatedly refused to enter the game with his shoelaces remaining untied despite his team needing him to fill in for Michael Davis in the third quarter when he injured his ankle. Multiple coaches attempted to convince Jackson to play, but he refused and said he wasn’t warm enough to play, per the report. 

Davis ended up toughing it out and played 72 of 73 snaps while Jackson didn’t play a single one in the 24–17 win. Before that, he was a healthy scratch in the team’s Week 3 win over the Vikings. All things considered, the trade was the best move for both parties. 

Without Jackson, a one-time All-Pro, Los Angeles is 3–4 with him in the lineup and 9–5 without him. He’s struggled this season, making the move to send him back to New England all the more sensible. Jackson played the first four years of his career in New England before signing a massive five-year deal worth $82.5 million with the Chargers during 2022 free agency. 

Now, he’s reunited with Bill Belichick where it all started as an undrafted free agent.