Hidden Reason for JC Jackson Trade Revealed, and it's Awful News for Patriots
By Tyler Maher
Patriots got some exciting news on Wednesday morning when it was announced that the team was reuniting with Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson, who played with New England from 2018-2021 before joining the Los Angeles Chargers.
Unfortunately, the trade was necessary because of a devastating injury update involving one of New England's top defenders.
The trade for JC Jackson was necessary because… #Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, who would have been a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, is likely to miss the rest of the 2023 season with a torn labrum from a dislocated shoulder on Sunday, sources say. Surgery soon. pic.twitter.com/97usulsG6N
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2023
Christian Gonzalez Injury Update
Immediately after the trade was reported, NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed that cornerback Christian Gonzalez is likely done for the season with a torn labrum. Gonzalez suffered the injury during the Patriots' embarrassing 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
This is crushing news for Gonzalez, who was New England's first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was already living up to the hype not just as one of the team's best defenders, but as one of the top cornerbacks in the league.
Through his first four games, Gonzalez had already racked up 17 tackles (14 solo), 3 passes defended, 1 interception and 1 sack, making a major impact. If he kept it up, he was going to have a strong case for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Now, it looks like his career might be on hold until 2024, which certainly isn't ideal for his development and growth.
In the meantime, Gonzalez's injury will make it even harder for New England to win games. The Patriots are just 1-3 and are already dealing with numerous injuries, including on the offensive line and to fellow top defender Matthew Judon. For an offensively challenged team that was relying on its defense to stay competitive, this news is brutal.
New England will try to soldier on without Gonzalez and beat the New Orleans Saints at home in Week 5, but the team's outlook for the rest of the season definitely isn't promising.
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