Jackson nears return from season-ending knee surgery
COSTA MESA >> J.C. Jackson’s workout was quite a bit different than his teammates’ practice on the first day of the Chargers’ two-day minicamp on Tuesday. He ran and ran and ran some more while they performed the football drills that have become so familiar, so traditional during the NFL’s offseason.
If all goes well, if all goes as Jackson hopes during his appointment next Monday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, an orthopedic surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, then he should be cleared to resume normal football activities and be sound enough to participate in training camp in late July.
It’s been a long, frustrating and frequently boring road to recovery for Jackson, a cornerback who ruptured his right patellar tendon while defending a pass play during the Chargers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 23 at SoFi Stadium. But it’s one that’s nearing its conclusion, Jackson promised Tuesday.
“I’m going to find out,” he said of his status for the start of training camp and for the opening of the regular season on Sept. 10. “By the looks of it, the way I’m moving, the way I’m performing, when the doctor does see me, when he does check in on me, I think he’s going to see that I’m ready.”
The initial estimate was that Jackson could be sidelined for between seven and eight months after ElAttrache performed surgery following the injury in the first half of the Chargers’ game against the Seahawks. Estimates for such injuries often vary between six and 12 months, depending on the severity.
“He’s engineered differently,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said of Jackson. “I fully expect him to be out there playing his game at some point this fall.”
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, instead of worrying that he couldn’t help his new teammates after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract in March 2022, Jackson went to work rehabilitating his knee and learning all he needed to know about the Chargers’ defense and his teammates, too.
Let’s face it, Jackson’s impact in his first season with the Chargers after spending four with the New England Patriots was minimal. His training camp was interrupted when he underwent surgery on his ankle and he was inactive for two of the Chargers’ first three games of the 2022 season.
Jackson had 15 tackles (12 solo) in five games, but he did not have an interception for the first time in his career. He had eight interceptions in the 2021 season with the Patriots and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after he set a career-high with nine picks n the 2020 season.
“I felt like (expletive), you know what I’m saying?” Jackson said of his play during his five games in 2022. “I haven’t done anything. Got hurt. Just got paid. I still gotta prove to my teammates and to myself that I’m still ‘Mr. INT.’ I didn’t do (expletive) last year. I felt like (expletive), honestly. I didn’t feel good at all.”
Jackson said his recovery and rehabilitation process has been a mental ordeal. He said he’s handled the physical part well enough and now he’s poised to make his return.
“I’m ready to get back out there,” he said. “I love this game of football. I love to compete and I can’t wait. I can’t wait for this year. I’m expecting to come out here and practice, know what I’m saying? That’s how, mentally, I’m going to be ready for training camp. I’m going to be ready for Week 1. I’m going to be ready. Whenever the doctor says I’m cleared, I’m going to be ready.”
Jackson’s teammates are ready to see him back on the field, too.
“I’m really happy for J.C., man,” Chargers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day said. “He’s been putting in a lot of work this offseason. I was here for the entire spring, so I’ve seen him the entire time. The entire winter, too. In February, I was here. I’ve seen him every day grinding away. I’m really happy for J.C. I expect a huge comeback from him. I’m super excited.”
Training room changes
The Chargers promoted Marco Zucconi to be their director of player health and performance from his old position as the associate athletic trainer and hired Sal Lopez from the Tennessee Titans to be their new head athletic trainer.
The team parted ways with former head athletic trainer Damon Mitchell after six seasons.