J.C. Jackson's Chargers career has not gone as planned. After signing a massive deal with the team in 2022, Jackson's debut was delayed due to a surprise ankle surgery right before the start of the regular season. Once Jackson did play, he struggled to pick up Brandon Staley's defense and was even benched at halftime against the Denver Broncos.
Jackson then suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in Week 7 that wiped him out for the rest of the season. Miraculously, Jackson returned much sooner than expected and was a full participant (and starter) for the Chargers in Week 1 of the 2023 season against the Miami Dolphins.
What could have been a great story for Jackson and the Chargers has instead turned sour very quickly. Jackson was getting targeted and exposed in coverage in the first half, leading Brandon Staley to take him out for certain sequences.
Jackson returned to the field as Miami attempted a hail mary at the end of the first half that had no real chance of turning into anything; that is, until Jackson decided to shove the receiver for literally no reason to pick up the pass interference.
J.C. Jackson with the pass interference penalty to extend the half 🤦♂️ 🤦♂️
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 10, 2023
The Dolphins would go on to make a 41-yard field goal and cash 1H ML +125 ✅pic.twitter.com/lLsFO9SPs0
J.C. Jackson is becoming a problem for the LA Chargers
It is one thing to get burnt in coverage and not play well. While it still is not a good thing, Jackson is getting matched up against the most athletic receiving corps in the league. Him struggling against this athleticism in his first game back from a serious leg injury isn't the most surprising thing in the world.
It is a completely other thing to commit a totally pointless penalty like this. The Chargers had momentum going into the half after driving down to kick a field goal. Los Angeles had a chance to score 10 unanswered points by getting the ball after the half, which could be huge in an offensive matchup like this.
Instead, Jackson disrupted that run and gifted the Dolphins three free points. Mistakes like this are the kind of mistakes that Chargers fans are accustomed to. Time and time again fans have seen these kinds of mistakes cost the team the game. It is all too common for the powder blue.
Hopefully, it won't cost the Chargers the outcome of the game. If the Bolts are going to overcome this and win the game, the team may need to sit Jackson down for the entire second half.