When the Chargers signed cornerback J.C. Jackson in 2022, hopes were high that they would have a lockdown corner to form one of the NFL’s top secondaries. Though the unit thrived last season, Jackson only saw action in a handful of games before his season ended due to injury, which had a major impact on the depth in their defensive backfield.
In his comments on Monday, Brandon Staley gave a brief update on Jackson’s injury, though his words won’t allay fans’ concerns about his return to the field in 2023. Asked about the cornerback’s disposition at present, Staley told reporters that his status is unclear.
“[We have] no timeline,” Staley explained. “He’s at the facility, just kind of same as [usual]. Improving. It’s good to see him on a day-to-day basis.”
Continuing his comments, Staley expressed Los Angeles’ unwavering commitment to having Jackson in an integral role in the Chargers’ defense and made it clear that he and his staff will re-evaluate the cornerback’s performance based on what they saw last season.
“What we’ve tried to do is look at training camp,” Staley said, “that’s when our purest evaluation of J.C. Jackson occurred. And we love J.C. Jackson. We have a lot of belief in this guy as a player. He showed us exactly why we went out and signed him.”
While the uncertainty surrounding his status for the 2023 season is certainly less than ideal, Jackson seems poised to make a huge difference for the Chargers’ defense if he manages to get back on the field at full strength. With the rest of the offseason to recover and rehabilitate, a more thorough update from Staley should be expected later this summer as the team works through OTAs and training camp.
For now, Michael Davis, who had a stellar 2022 season, will start on the outside alongside Asante Samuel Jr. Ja’Sir Taylor is slated to be the starting slot corner. But the depth behind them leaves a lot to be desired, with Deane Leonard and Michael Jacquet as the only backups. This is a position that the Chargers could upgrade in the draft next month.
