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J.C. Jackson will not return to the New England Patriots this season.
On Tuesday, the Patriots placed the cornerback on the reserve/non-football illness list. Jackson missed Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs because of “mental health issues,” per his agent.
New England filled his spot on the active roster by signing running back Kevin Harris. The Patriots also added defensive back William Hooper and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad and claimed former CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots have placed CB JC Jackson on the reserve/non-football illness list and signed RB Kevin Harris from the practice squad.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 19, 2023
Jackson headlined New England’s secondary when collecting nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 2018. He received his first Pro Bowl nod the following year with eight picks, prompting the Los Angeles Chargers to give him a five-year, $82.5 million deal.
Injuries limited Jackson to five games last year, and the Chargers sent him back to New England for a 2025 late-pick swap after a rough start to 2023.
Jackson jumped into the starting lineup in place of star rookie Christian Gonzalez, who suffered a season-ending injury. Yet his second stint in Foxborough hasn’t gone as well.
The 28-year-old has zero interceptions in eight games while allowing four touchdowns and a 107.8 opposing quarterback rating in coverage. He didn’t travel with the team to Germany as punishment for missing bed checks before New England’s Week 9 game against the Washington Commanders.
Alex Austin made his first career start in Jackson’s place Sunday. The rookie said he found out right before the game began.
Jackson is now ineligible for the final three games of the regular season, starting with a Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.