The Chargers sought out cornerback J.C. Jackson this past offseason, hoping to be the anchor of the defensive backfield.
Jackson missed the first two games due to off-season ankle surgery. When he finally got on the field, Jackson struggled to play up to the five-year, $82.5 million contract he signed in March.
Entering Week 6, Jackson had been targeted 20 times while allowing 15 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Further, he had yet to intercept a pass and was credited with just a single pass breakup.
Enough was enough on Monday night against the Broncos when Jackson’s struggles continued. After a porous first-half performance, he was benched to start the second half in favor of seventh-year Michael Davis.
“It just wasn’t good enough in the first half and we felt like we needed to make a change,” Brandon Staley said on the decision to bench Jackson.
Jackson was called for defensive pass interference on a deep pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the Broncos’ first drive.
It was all downhill from there.
On Denver’s next drive, which resulted in a 39-yard touchdown by rookie Greg Dulcich, they were in Cover 3, and instead of covering his side of the field, Jackson followed K.J. Hamler, leading to a wide-open Dulcich.
When asked if Dulcich’s touchdown was on Jackson, Staley replied, “Yeah.”
Two drives later, right before the half, Jackson got beat on a double move by Hamler, resulting in a 47-yard pickup.
“The Hamler catch, was J.C. beat there?” Staley responded, “Yeah.” “Was he supposed to have safety help?” Staley said, “No.”
Before the matchup with Denver, Jackson said that the ankle was not the issue for his early struggles.
Instead, he said it was a matter of getting his confidence back and acclimating to the defensive scheme after going from a man-heavy system with the Patriots to playing the most zone coverage he has ever played.
With New England, Jackson earned All-Pro honors in 2021 after registering eight interceptions and a league-leading 23 pass deflections.
Nevertheless, once Davis took the field, the play in the secondary improved. He did a great job of locking up his side of the field, and he broke up a pass intended for Courtland Sutton in the fourth quarter.
“Mike gave us a chance in the second half,” Staley said.
Now, still early in the season, the question looms of what the Chargers will do with the outside spot opposite Asante Samuel Jr. going forward
Do they throw Jackson back into the mix, hoping to see an improvement, or simply because they’re paying him too much money to stand on the sidelines?
Or, do they ride with Davis, who had a better two quarters than Jackson has had all season?
We wait and see how it all unfolds.