DECEMBER 19: Jackson’s season is now over. The Patriots are placing the recently reacquired cornerback on the reserve/non-football illness list, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. As this designation sidelines a player for at least four games, Jackson’s next opportunity to suit up will come in September. Jackson’s Chargers-constructed contract runs through 2026, but no guaranteed money remains beyond this year. The Patriots signed running back Kevin Harris from their practice squad to take Jackson’s roster spot.
DECEMBER 17: The Patriots were forced to start rookie cornerback Alex Austin against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs today when expected starter J.C. Jackson was an unexpected scratch on the active roster today. Jackson’s agent, Neil Schwartz, explained that his client is dealing with mental health issues, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, a problem Jackson has admitted to in the past. 
“I would say, mentally, I’m getting better,” Jackson had said after missing the team’s trip to Germany. “The past year and a half, two years has been up and down for me, mentally. You see us in those little, small helmets, but as we walk out these doors, we’re dealing with reality and what a normal person has to deal with.”
Jackson, once a prized free agent addition for the Chargers after his initial stint in New England, was traded back to the Patriots earlier this year after multiple injuries and a few healthy scratches in Los Angeles. Jackson was almost immediately elevated to a starting position in New England when rookie first-round pick Christian Gonzalez was lost for the year.
Despite a return to prominence with his old team, Jackson still experienced issues. His absence in Germany was the result of discipline for missing multiple “bed checks,” a punishment that he accepted, apologized for, and said he would learn from.
Today’s absence, though, proves that there is still a bit of work to be done by Jackson. The Patriots clearly thought he would be active today, leading them to list backup cornerback Shaun Wade as inactive. This resulted in the team being down two cornerbacks against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and forced them to start a rookie seventh-round pick that they signed a month and a half ago. Things went from bad to worse when veteran starter Jonathan Jones left the game with a knee injury, leaving only Austin and slot corner Myles Bryant as the remaining healthy cornerbacks on the roster.
With the Patriots already eliminated from the playoffs, there won’t be any rush to bring Jackson back before he can handle it, or at least, there shouldn’t be. Players are people, too, and it’s been clear for a while now that Jackson is struggling. Today’s inability to play is the latest in a string of adversity for Jackson as he continues to attempt to prioritize his mental health as an NFL player.
Bed checks? What is Belichick running over there, a professional football team or a kids’ summer camp?
A lot of teams have bed checks when they’re on the road it’s a very common thing in every sport
Think about it ur paying these players millions so ur going to make sure they are fallowing all the rules they set out so they play in the games some sports u can’t even bring one nighters to ur hotel room only wife’s and girlfriends
Deshaun Watson: “Who needs a wife or girlfriend when you can order a full service massage?”
Did he realize he is a system guy and stole a ton of money?
He didn’t steal money. A terrible GM overpaid for him. That’s on both the Chargers and Pats (trading for him) for paying him.
Here we go with “mental health issues” how convenient.
I don’t imagine that it is convenient at all
Really scummy to belittle people having mental health issues. Typical troll behavior
Coming from a person with mental health issues your comment isn’t needed comments like that could push a person to their limits and coming from me a person who’s tried 3x I know it would