Nothing on Raiders first injury report, while Chargers were without CB JC Jackson and TE Donald Parham
The Raiders and Chargers first injury report for the 2022 season is out. It looks good for the Raiders as they have no one on it. Not even anyone limited.
As for the Chargers, they were missing CB JC Jackson and TE Donald Parham.
Jackson had a procedure on his ankle a couple weeks ago that had a timeline of 2-4 weeks for his return, putting his status for the opener at day-to-day.
Parham’s hamstring is less certain.
Both are injuries worth watching throughout the week, more so Jackson as the Pro Bowl cornerback is a key part of this Chargers defense and their biggest offseason acquisition.
A look at some causes for concern as the Los Angeles Chargers gear up to face the Las Vegas Raiders.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Chargers’ season, set to kick off on Sunday with a home game against the Raiders.
We know both teams will bring the energy for a heated rivalry game, though, and there are a few reasons to be concerned about the matchup with Vegas.
Here are four of them:
J.C. Jackson injury
Jackson hasn’t yet returned to practice after undergoing ankle surgery two weeks ago, which seems to suggest he’ll be out on Sunday. That leaves Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. as the two starting corners on the outside. One of them will have to cover Davante Adams for the majority of this game, with Bryce Callahan in the slot against Hunter Renfrow and Derwin James likely manning up Darren Waller. The Chargers should be confident in Callahan and James to get their jobs done, but Davis and/or Samuel on Adams could be a bit of a pain point. The injury to Jackson also weakens the depth in the secondary – if anyone else goes down, rookies Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard are next up in the rotation.
Unclear running back rotation
Isaiah Spiller continues to nurse an ankle injury, leaving his role in Week 1 a bit unclear. Joshua Kelley and newly signed Sony Michel will likely split the second running back duties, but there are reasons to be cautious about both. While Kelley has looked much improved this offseason, he has yet to prove he can be a high-impact player in games that count. Michel has struggled with his health, which has partially contributed to a declining yards per carry average over the past few seasons that led to him getting cut by the Dolphins earlier this offseason. If the Raiders can limit Ekeler, one of the three other options will have to step up. But will any of them get consistent enough reps to get into a groove?
Offensive line chemistry
Rashawn Slater and Matt Feiler return on the left side. They’re not the issue here. What could be one, especially for Week 1, is the chemistry between rookie Zion Johnson and his compatriots. Center Corey Linsley didn’t play a single snap of preseason action as one of the Chargers’ many bubble-wrapped veterans, but he’s also had a series of mysterious vet rest days in practice. That leaves him and Johnson without a full complement of reps in practice and zero live opportunities to work out the kinks. On the other side, Johnson has had to build chemistry with both right tackles: Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton. Pipkins eventually won the job, and his chemistry did look better with Johnson. But again, it’s only half the number of reps the rookie could’ve had with his right tackle. Those hiccups could lead to pressure on Justin Herbert or rapidly closing holes for Ekeler and the running game.
Return game threats
Maybe it’s just because my childhood is marred with memories of the Raiders blocking multiple Mike Scifres punts back in 2010, but special teams is always one of my focus areas whenever these two teams meet. This year, I think the biggest concern is in the return game, especially after watching Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin torch the Chargers for a kick and punt return touchdown. Raiders kick returner Ameer Abdullah is tied for third among active NFL players in kick return average with 25.4 yards per return, behind only Cordarrelle Patterson and former Charger Andre Roberts. Abdullah is also fourth in total kick return yardage among active players behind Patterson, Roberts, and Tyler Lockett. Hunter Renfrow is a lesser threat as a punt returner, but his shiftiness is not to be underestimated. If Los Angeles hasn’t patched the holes that led to Turpin’s huge preseason game, it could be a rough afternoon for them.
The Chargers finish with the most NFL Top-100 players of 2022.
One of the Chargers’ new additions is also a top 20 player in the NFL.
As part of Sunday’s final reveal of the top 100 players in the league, cornerback J.C. Jackson was named the 20th best player as voted on by his colleagues. Jackson moves up 29 spots from last season after logging eight interceptions and being named to his first Pro Bowl.
Jackson earned a five-year, $82.5 million contract from LA this offseason after spending his first four seasons in New England, where he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018. His 17 interceptions over the past two seasons are the most in the NFL in that span.
In Los Angeles, he’ll be expected to lock down half the field to open up Brandon Staley’s play calling the same way Jalen Ramsey did when Staley served as defensive coordinator for the Rams.
This year’s Chargers squad is tied for the most players from one team to be named to the list with 8. The Seahawks also had eight on the 2017 edition – Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Bobby Wagner, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Doug Baldwin. LA’s group is a bit more balanced with three defenders and five offensive players. Jackson is also rated one spot higher than Sherman was in 2017.
Joining such a club does not necessarily guarantee success, as the 2017 Seahawks went just 9-7 and missed the playoffs that season. The Bolts will hope their season goes much differently.
JC Jackson could miss season opener vs Raiders after ankle surgery
The biggest free agent signing of the offseason for the Chargers may not be on the field when they attempt to avenge their 2021 season-ending loss to the Raiders.
The Pro Bowl cornerback had ankle surgery that could have him out as much as four weeks according to Daniel Popper of the Athletic.
J.C. Jackson underwent ankle surgery today. He is out two to four weeks, #Chargers say.
The season opener against the Raiders is coming up in less than three weeks, which means Jackson’s recovery would have to be on the low end of the timeline if he is to play.
Obviously that would be a big loss for the Chargers. Jackson’s 17 interceptions the past two seasons, led the NFL. He will be a big part of upgrading the Chargers defense.
Should he not go, Michael Davis would get the nod to start opposite Asante Samuel Jr at outside cornerback.
They will attempt to stop a Raiders offense that put up 35 points on the Chargers in an overtime thriller to knock them out of the playoffs on final game of the season.
Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers secondary will look like in the 2022 season.
Football has returned, and the Chargers officially kick off training camp with high expectations and new faces.
A revamped secondary loaded with star power starters is sure to be watched closely, along with the depth waiting in the wings behind them.
Here is how I expect the defensive back room to shake up when the Chargers head into Week 1 against the Raiders
Cornerbacks
J.C. Jackson
The $82.5 million free agency splurge. Jackson was brought to Los Angeles to erase No. 1 targets and frustrate quarterbacks into throwing interceptions. He is one of the NFL’s best cover men and will face no shortage of tests in 2022.
Asante Samuel Jr.
After many draft analysts pegged the former Florida State Seminole as a slot-exclusive player, the Chargers demonstrated their faith in the second-round choice by trusting him on the outside. Samuel is technically sound, sticky to his opponent’s hips, and multitasks with confidence. His ascension opposite Jackon will be exciting to watch
Bryce Callahan
Staley praised the former Denver Bronco slot agent’s movement skills, long speed, and lower body strength this offseason. Callahan is a capable defender against the more agile inside weapons, and he’s a great fit for Staley’s defensive philosophy that values athleticism over size.
Michael Davis
Last year’s CB1 finds himself as a rotational player heading into this season, but Davis offers the Chargers vital flexibility. If the offense’s top target shifts to the slot for a play, Davis suit up at the outside spot and allow Samuel to move inside. Davis had his share of ups and downs in 2021, but he knows the defensive system and offers 4.34 speed with plenty of length at 6-foot-2.
Ja’Sir Taylor
Taylor didn’t capture national attention during the draft process, but the sixth-round selection is versatile, fast, and brings a studious mentality to the game. Taylor tracks the ball well and responds to every detail revealed by the offense. He’ll back up Callahan in the slot and contribute as a returner on special teams.
Deane Leonard
Leonard will compete with Teavaughn Campbell, Kemon Hall, and Mark Webb Jr. for the final spot in the defensive back room. He’s only a rookie still learning the system, but his quickness, ball skills, and strong OTA performance give him the best shot to make the team.
Safeties
Derwin James
James rebounded with a strong 2021 campaign after missing eleven games the previous season. He’s the perfect blend of physicality, range, coverage ability, and instincts. Rumblings around the league suggest he’s primed for a massive payday before the start of the season.
Nasir Adderley
Adderley lined up with James for a full season and the results were catastrophic for offenses. Staley will alternate James and Adderley over the top and down in the box, using them both as chess pieces to add strength against the pass and patch up necessary gaps facing the run. Adderley puts down ball carriers hard and has only scraped the surface of his opportunistic abilities.
J.T. Woods
Woods played the ultimate centerfielder role for Baylor and racked up so many interceptions the coaching staff started calling him ‘The Heartbreak Kid.’ He’s also got 4.3 speed (notice a trend?) to provide swift help to the team’s cornerbacks when needed. Woods and his eye for turnovers in the deep half should lead to more freedom for James and Adderley.
Alohi Gilman
Gilman will compete with Woods for two-deep duties behind Woods and Adderley. He contributed 37 tackles and an interception to the unit last season. Both Adderley and James have missed the majority of a season at one point in their careers, so having extra depth at the position is a good idea.
The Chargers could be adding another piece to their defense.
The Chargers could be adding another piece to their defense.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, former Patriots linebacker is visiting Los Angeles on Thursday.
Rapoport adds that there’s a good chance Van Noy signs if all goes well during his visit.
In March, Van Noy was released by New England, ending his second tenure with the team after just one season. Before that, the Dolphins cut ties with him just one year after signing him to a four-year contract in free agency.
Van Noy joined the Patriots via trade during the 2016 season, and he won two Super Bowls with them.
In 16 games last year, Van Noy recorded 66 total tackles (42 solo) and five sacks with an interception returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Van Noy began his career with the Lions after being drafted out of BYU in 2014.
Chargers reel in another big fish, agree to terms with top free agent CB JC Jackson
The Chargers are not messing around this offseason. Last week they acquired Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears — thus giving them arguably the league’s top pass rush duo — and today they agreed to terms with the top free agent cornerback on the market.
J.C. Jackson, who has had 22 interceptions over the past three seasons in New England, is now a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
This deal is worth $16.5 million per season, which is actually pretty affordable. It lands him just outside the top five cornerbacks in the league in terms of per year money. The top being Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($20 million per) with whom he will now share a stadium.
Unlike many free agent deals each offseason, Jackson earned the right to be the highest paid corner. He did so by putting up the most interceptions in the NFL over the past three seasons.
It was reported that the Raiders were negotiating with Jackson as well, but the Chargers won his services in the end.
The first sign that the Chargers had lured in Jackson was when he and safety Derwin James both tweeted double eyeballs on social media within seconds of each other.
James and Jackson will make for a potent pair in the back end of the Chargers defense, while Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack will be working to make their lives easier.
Highlighting one pending free agent from each AFC team that could be on the Chargers’ radar.
The free agency frenzy is set to begin on Monday, as it marks the legal tampering period where teams are allowed to start contacting and entering into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents.
The Chargers have already been active, re-signing wide receiver Mike Williams and agreeing with the Bears to trade for edge defender Khalil Mack. But with $21 million in available salary-cap space and needs at various positions, look for them to be active in free agency.
Without further ado, here is a pending free agent from each team in the AFC that the Bolts could have their eyes on.
J. C. Jackson is set to test the free agent market.
New England Patriots cornerback J. C. Jackson is expected to hit the free agent market, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Patriots are not expected to place the franchise tag on their star cornerback.
If the Patriots had placed the franchise tag on Jackson, they would have owed him roughly $17 million for 2022. The team has just $9 million in cap space for next season, per Over The Cap.
Jackson recorded eight interceptions for the Patriots last season. That total was down from 2020 when he recorded nine. Nevertheless, he was a vital part of the Patriots secondary, putting together a year that would lead to his first Pro Bowl appearance. Jackson has 25 interceptions in four seasons in the NFL after joining the team as an undrafted free agent. He has quickly established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
From NFL Now: #Patriots CB JC Jackson is expected to hit the free agent market, rather than receive the franchise tag. One of the top CBs will generate significant interest. pic.twitter.com/i3PE7GGGNE
With Jackson hitting the market, New England will now have another hole to fill, in what is expected to be a busy offseason for the Patriots organization.
Impending Patriots free agent star J.C. Jackson has felt disrespected by the team in recent weeks. Could the Cardinals make a home run addition in the coming weeks?
Part of the Arizona Cardinals’ late-season collapse in the 2021 season came due to injuries in the defensive backfield. Cornerbacks Robert Alford and Marco Wilson missed significant time down the stretch, which tested an already thin room.
Cornerback was arguably the biggest concern for the team entering 2021, given the uncertainty in starting Wilson in his rookie year and the reliance on Byron Murphy to fill the No. 1 role.
Murphy had an up-and-down season as the team’s heir to Patrick Peterson. He allowed 731 yards receiving and five touchdowns, but did manage to snag four interceptions. Overall, it was a solid season given it was his first year moving to outside cornerback full time.
The Cardinals are almost certainly going to look to add a piece to the cornerback room in two weeks time. They should look no further than New England’s J.C. Jackson.
The Patriots’ hesitancy to pay Jackson two weeks out from him becoming an unrestricted free agent is baffling. A few months prior, they traded their perennial Pro-Bowler in Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers. Gilmore and the Patriots were having contract disputes, and it was assumed the move was made with sights set on an impending lucrative deal for their younger star corner in Jackson.
Jackson appeared on NBC Sports Boston and expressed his frustrations with the team’s lack of communication on his short and long term future. The Patriots have apparently not reached out regarding a contract extension. It also appears, at this time, he will not be receiving the franchise tag after playing last season on a second-round tender.
“I guess they feel like they don’t need me,” he told Phil Berry. “I guess I can’t be that important to them. I know I am, but they’re not showing me.”
Jackson has emerged as one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL. He was selected to both the Pro-Bowl and AP second-team All-Pro in 2021. With eight interceptions last season and 25 in his career (only four seasons!), Jackson will rightfully be paid handsomely by someone, if not the Patriots.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson graded as the seventh-ranked cornerback among 116 qualified grades. He posted a 78.9 rating, a career-high.
The Patriots have historically been very cautious in giving out lucrative multi-year contracts, so it is certainly possible Jackson at least tests the open market. Is this something the Cardinals should consider, given the hefty price tag?
Steve Keim and the Cardinals executives must now navigate free agency with the inevitable extension for Kyler Murray. Handing out long-term deals to free agents is only going to get more difficult. Jackson, however, is an exception.
Free agency has been labeled fools gold by Keim in the past. This is certainly true in some cases, however there is very rarely a player of Jackson’s caliber that reaches the open market, particularly at his age.
This would get tricky, but it could be done. Spotrac has his market value at nearly $21 million per year, which would eclipse Jalen Ramsey as the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. That wouldn’t be shocking, given the high-bidding nature of the free agency. At the very least, the Cardinals should anticipate having to pay at least $17 million per year, similar to the contracts of Marshon Lattimore (19.5) and Tre’Davious White (17.2).
On top of the Murray extension, the Cardinals have a very long list of free agents to tend to. Paying Jackson his market salary would likely spell the end for the majority of the Cardinals’ free agents time with the team. With the impending loss of Chandler Jones, however, the Cardinals may find themselves able to pay another star defender $20 million per year, as they did with their franchise all-time sack leader for a time.
Adding a 26-year-old cornerback in his prime gives the Cardinals a young, elite secondary for the next few seasons. Pairing Jackson with Budda Baker, Byron Murphy and Jalen Thompson would be extraordinary.
The Super Bowl champions and NFC runner-ups are both in your division, each with elite wide receivers. Pay J.C. Jackson.
