New England Patriots Cornerback J.C. Jackson Absent from Sideline Due to Mental Health Issues

Despite being active, New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson was mysteriously absent from the sideline during the team’s 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Jackson’s agent, Neil Schwartz, confirmed that the cornerback was dealing with mental health issues.

Coach Belichick’s Response

Coach Bill Belichick was asked three times in his postgame news conference about Jackson’s status. After the third inquiry, Belichick simply stated, “He wasn’t available. Just leave it at that.”

Rookie Alex Austin Steps In

Rookie Alex Austin started in Jackson’s place for the game against the Chiefs. Another cornerback, Shaun Wade, was a healthy scratch.

“We all know that when a game starts, anything can happen,” Belichick commented. “(Austin) was ready to play, expected to play, played a lot. It’s everybody’s job to be ready to go. That’s what we do.”

Jackson’s Journey

J.C. Jackson joined the Patriots in 2018 as an undrafted free agent and quickly established himself as one of the team’s top cornerbacks. He recorded 25 interceptions in four seasons with New England and signed a lucrative five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022.

However, Jackson’s time with the Chargers was plagued by a patellar tendon injury in 2022, and he struggled upon his return this season. As a result, he was traded back to the Patriots in a late-round pick swap.

Previous Incidents

This is not the first time Jackson has faced disciplinary actions. He was benched in Week 9 for missing curfew and was ordered to stay home the following week. Additionally, he did not travel to Germany for the game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite these setbacks, Jackson started the previous three games before his absence in the Chiefs’ game.

Required Reading

(Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)