New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson, right, battles through a stiff-arm to push New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara out of bounds. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
The J.C. Jackson who wore No. 27 is gone. Everyone, please welcome the J.C. Jackson who wears No. 29 and is looking rejuvenated.
That’s the way New England Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino is looking at it. Two games into his second tour in New England, Jackson has been thrown into the deep end of the defensive pool. However, Pellegrino says that Jackson has been eager to dive in.
“He loves football. That’s the biggest thing,” Pellegrino said. “It’s nice to have that rejuvenation of him being back in the building, doing extra work, pulling guys with him. It’s nice. I like J.C. back in the building right now.”
Jackson is coming off what his coach calls a “confidence builder” last week, playing 67 defensive snaps, many of which came against one of the NFL’s top receivers in Davante Adams.
It’s been a huge transition for Jackson, who fell out of favor in his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Since being traded back to New England, Jackson has been relied upon heavily because the Patriots have been hit with injuries at the cornerback position.
The Patriots face another big test this week when they take on the Bills. It’s a familiar opponent for Jackson, who has a history of going up against Buffalo’s top receiver Stefon Diggs.
However, Pellegrino isn’t putting much stock into the Jackson-Diggs battles of the past. That was a different player.
“New year, new opportunities, so I’m really not having a lot of weight on that, what happened in the past,” Pellegrino said. “It’s his opportunity to go out there and show what he can do as the 29 J.C., not the 27 J.C.”
THE PATRIOTS BROUGHT back a 2017 draft pick Tuesday when they signed offensive tackle Conor McDermott to their practice squad, a source told MassLive.
New England has an open roster spot on its practice squad after signing Malik Cunningham to the active roster last week. McDermott was spotted at Tuesday’s practice wearing No. 75.
The UCLA product was with the Patriots over the summer. But was released from injured reserve in September with an injury settlement after final roster cuts were made for the upcoming season.
The Patriots offensive line has struggled this season and McDermott will provide some depth. The 30-year-old is also familiar with Adrian Klemm, who was McDermott’s offensive line coach while at UCLA.
Originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, McDermott never played a game for New England until 2022. The Patriots waived him in September 2017.
McDermott was claimed by the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 3, 2017 and spent two seasons with the team before being waived in October 2019. He found a home for three seasons with the New York Jets and recorded his first career touchdown in 2021 on a pass from Zach Wilson against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He found his way back to the Patriots in November 2022 after being signed off the Jets practice squad and signed a two-year extension in February.
Last year, in six games, McDermott allowed one sack, seven quarterback hits and was called for one hold. In six games this season, Patriots right tackles Vederian Lowe and Calvin Anderson have combined to allow four sacks, six hits and have been called for one hold.
Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas, who suffered a concussion against the Saints and did not play Sunday against the Raiders, returned to practice on Tuesday. Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press
THE PATRIOTS WERE without eight starters including four on offense, and four on defense during Tuesday’s practice session.
Left tackle Trent Brown, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, tight end Hunter Henry and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster were missing from the offense. Both Brown (chest) and Smith-Schuster (concussion) were on the injury report last week. Stevenson and Henry were banged up during a 21-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, although both finished the game.
On the defensive side, cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Josh Uche, and defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Keion White weren’t at practice. Jones had been battling an ankle problem, but appeared to suffer a knee injury during Sunday’s game. White suffered a head injury during the first defensive series, did not return to the game and is now in concussion protocol. Both Godchaux and Uche were listed on the injury report last week with ankle problems.
On the plus side, wide receiver Demario Douglas, who was in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury the previous week against the New Orleans Saints, was back on the field. Cornerback Jack Jones, on IR since the start of season with a hamstring injury, was activated and put on the clock to return.
ADAM BUTLER, a former defensive tackle with the Patriots now playing for the Raiders, felt a bit slighted Sunday when Coach Bill Belichick did not talk to him after the game.
“It did make me very upset that Bill didn’t even have the respect to say anything after the game,” said Butler, who spent four years with New England. “Not even congratulate me, tell me, ‘You look good,’ or ‘You don’t look good,’ … something. He didn’t say anything. So, kind of felt disrespected, made me feel bad. And I know Coach Belichick has bigger things to worry about, obviously. They’re going through a tough time. But I mean sheesh, wave, something. But nothing.”
Butler had two tackles and a sack in the 21-17 win over the Patriots.
The 29-year-old signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and recorded 96 tackles and 15 sacks in 63 regular-season games from 2017 to 2020. Butler signed a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2021 but was released before the 2022 season due to a failed physical. He signed with the Raiders this offseason.
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