Donte

Jackson

The Chargers signed Jackson to a two-year, $13 million contract this offseason. He is competing for one of the two perimeter cornerback roles, with Kristin Fulton now a Kansas City Chief.

Jackson was a part of the trade that sent Diontae Johnson to the Panthers last offseason. Jackson forced a career-high five interceptions last season, but earned a PFF coverage grade of 46.2 — the lowest mark of his career. Opposing receivers posted a receiving line of 36-473-3 on 60 targets when matched up against Jackson last season and excelled against him after the catch. Kristian Fulton, who played the second most snaps of any corner on the Chargers last season was on a one-year deal and is no lock to return this offseason. Jackson could very well be tasked with replacing Fulton on his new deal.

Things were trending in this direction after Watt was seen practicing earlier in the week. The Steelers will have their star pass rusher available to them in Saturday’s AFC North battle against the Ravens despite suffering his ankle injury less than a week ago. Watt has totaled 54 tackles and 11.5 sacks this season and has totaled four sacks in his last three games. While Watt will be active, cornerback Donte Jackson (back) is officially questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday.

Jackson went down in the second quarter of Sunday’s game and did not return to the field. The veteran corner was ruled out at the start of the second half and was replaced by James Pierre. Jackson was acquired by the Steelers over the summer in a trade that sent Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. He has started all 14 games he’s appeared in this season, earning a PFF coverage grade of 50.4 while allowing 32 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson was expected to be traded or released, and now he heads to the Steelers as part of the Diontae Johnson deal. He is due a $4 million roster bonus on March 16th, which will now be paid by Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career thus far with the Panthers, starting in all but four of his 80 career games. He finished last season with five passes defended, a forced fumble, and no interceptions. Jackson now joins a Steelers secondary in need of corner help next to Joey Porter.

Johnson had been vocal about his unhappiness in the Steelers offense, and now he reportedly heads to the Panthers to catch passes from Bryce Young. He is due a $3 million roster bonus on Friday that the Panthers will now pay, in addition to taking on his contract, which will expire at the end of the 2024 season. Johnson posted 51 receptions for 717 yards in 2023, operating as one of the best receivers in terms of separation in the league. His production dipped to a career-low 10.3 YPR in 2022 with zero touchdowns after a 100-catch, 1000-yard season in 2021. He continued to face competition from George Pickens while seeing lackluster quarterback play in 2023. Johnson will be the top receiving option in Carolina, though his fantasy viability will still be capped to WR2 status while Young and the new Panthers staff develop the offense. The Steelers also send a seventh-round pick to the Panthers and receive CB Dontae Jackson and a sixth-round pick in return.

Jackson is due a $4 million roster bonus on March 16, which can be viewed as the presumed deadline for the team to move on from him. Moving on from the former second-round pick would save the Panthers $5.9 million in cap space, but he’d also count as $9.8 million in dead cap. Jackson totaled 59 tackles in 16 games for the Panthers last season and earned a PFF coverage grade of 66.6. Jackson will be 28 at the start of next season and should draw plenty of interest on the open market should he hit free agency.

Carolina’s top cornerback injured his back during Week 15 against the Falcons and did not return to the game. He’s now starting the week on the wrong side of being ready to play. Considering the Panthers only have two wins, there is no reason for Jackson to rush back if he’s not healthy. If Jackson were to be unable to go, that would be a boost for Jordan Love and the Packers receivers, except that we’re not yet sure which Packers receivers will be healthy enough to play in Week 16 either.

Jackson went into the medical tent in the first half. He emerged from and stayed on the sidelines. Jackson then appeared to be working toward a return but never managed to retake the field. A weakened secondary is not what the Panthers need as they attempt to quell Justin Jefferson.

Jackson went down with the Achilles injury on Thursday versus the Falcons and will now miss the remainder of the season. After re-signing with the Panthers on a three-year deal in the offseason, Jackson was having a strong 2022 campaign before suffering the injury. He had two interceptions, three pass defenses, and 35 combined tackles in nine appearances.