Report: JC Jackson refused to play for Chargers vs. Raiders before trade to Patriots

When the New England Patriots traded for JC Jackson, it made perfect sense. The Patriots have had major injury issues at defensive back this season and Jackson hadn’t been playing for the Chargers. Besides that, Jackson had played in New England before and there was a comfort level there.

However, new details are emerging about Jackson’s time in Los Angeles. In particular, it’s being reported by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero that he refused to play in the Chargers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

JC Jackson wasn’t happy with his playing time. Meanwhile, the Chargers felt their defense was better when he wasn’t on the field. This came to a head when Jackson refused to go into a game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Instead, he chose to stand on the sidelines with his cleats untied.

JC Jackson had previously been a healthy scratch against the Minnesota Vikings.

Apparently, several coaches tried to talk him into playing. However, he remained resolute and refused to play, even when Michael Davis was injured. Among the reasons he gave for not playing was, reportedly, that he wasn’t warm enough. That may seem strange but isn’t for Jackson, who has sat out the first series of a half before for the same reason.

By Wednesday, the Chargers had enough and traded him to the New England Patriots, who were in desperate need of cornerback depth due to injuries to players like Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones, and Isaiah Bolden.

“He’s played in this system before,” Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers said. “So we just got to refresh him up on a couple of things. But he’s definitely a great acquisition with everything that’s been going on.”

JC Jackson started his career in New England, going to a Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl there. His success helped earn his five-year, $82.5 million contract with $40 million guaranteed with Los Angeles.

This wasn’t the first time communication between Jackson and the staff in Los Angeles was an issue. He’s also, reportedly, struggled with the sports performance staff as well. In particular, injuries were an issue in 2022 and they seemed to impact his performance on the field.

Ultimately, the Chargers decided it was better to cut their losses and make sure there weren’t locker room issues that to stick with him. For JC Jackson, this is a return to a setting where he’s already proven the ability to thrive in before.

Along with Jackson, New England and Los Angeles also exchanged picks in the trade.