Chargers' premier free agent signing building his case for worst FA pickup in last handful of years as he gets benched
The Los Angeles Chargers are finding out the hard way that success doesn't always travel with a player on their journey to a new destination.
An abundance of talent was added to the AFC West during this year's offseason. From blockbuster trades that brought in Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, and Khalil Mack, to notable free agent signings such as Chandler Jones and JuJu Smith-Schuster, big names flooded the division.
Cornerback JC Jackson, who earned All-Pro honors following his '21 campaign, was another premier player who landed in the AFC West this offseason.
Jackson and the Chargers agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal during free agency. The hope was for the 26-year-old to build on his All-Pro season the year prior, giving Los Angeles a lockdown presence opposite Asante Samuel Jr.
Unfortunately, things couldn't have gone any worse up to this point.
Chargers on wrong side of JC Jackson deal as defensive back continues to plummet
It's no secret what drew the Chargers to Jackson in the first place.
In 2021, the former New England Patriot was responsible for a season that can only be described as elite. Jackson allowed just 49.1% of passes his way to be completed, accompanied by an astonishingly low opposing quarterback rating of 46.8.
For reference, this rating was only 2.7 higher than Stephon Gilmore's during his Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2019.
However, none of that success has joined him on his journey to Los Angeles. Jackson is trending downwards each week, with his most recent performance being the worst outing of his career.
Jackson went into Monday night's game against the Denver Broncos allowing a quarterback rating of 146.3 - just 12 shy of a perfect number. Opposing offenses were getting everything they wanted against him, and it seemed impossible for things to get worse.
But then it did.
JC Jackson: From bad, to worse, to bench
Against Denver, Jackson was responsible for 12 of the Broncos' 16 points. He surrendered a QBR of 158.3 to the struggling Russell Wilson.
During the Broncos' first drive of the game, Los Angeles' defense was immediately able to set up a 3rd-and-14.
However, Jackson was flagged for pass interference on the play, effectively extending Denver's opening drive. The Broncos would eventually march into field goal range, courtesy of Jackson's penalty, and put three points on the board.
On the very next drive, the corner was responsible for giving up a 39-yard touchdown to 2022 third-round rookie Greg Dulcich.
“WIDE OPEN DULCICH! FIRST GAME IN THE NFL! TOUCHDOWN!”
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It didn't end there.
With the end of the first half mere seconds away, it looked like the Chargers' defense would head into the locker room with a stop. Once again, JC Jackson had other ideas.
: ESPN | @Kj_hamler GO LONG!!!!
📺: ESPN | @Kj_hamler
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Jackson gave up a 47-yard bomb to KJ Hamler with 50 seconds left in the half, leading to an easy three points for Denver.
Following the play, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley thought it best to bench the Pro Bowler for the remainder of the game.
Russell Wilson went from 10/10 with 110 yards passing and a touchdown to 5/18 with a mere 78 yards in the absence of JC Jackson.
Following the game, Staley admitted that both the touchdown and 47-yard Hamler completion were the result of blown assignments from Jackson.
As bad as things are, Los Angeles plans to stick with Jackson in the immediate future. The Chargers will travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks on Sunday, and Jackson will be in the starting lineup.