Pressure Awaits Josh Jackson Ahead of 2021 Training Camp
Packers corner Josh Jackson faces a lot of pressure in what could be his final training camp with Green Bay.
We are less than a week away from the first training camp practice, and Green Bay Packers corner Josh Jackson has to be feeling the pressure. The former second-round pick is entering year four and tucked away on a crowded depth chart. All hope is not lost, but Jackson’s opportunities will be dwindling by the day as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Jackson’s time in Green Bay hit an all-time low after he was a healthy scratch at the end of last season. Over the years, the Packers provided Jackson with a number of chances to show something that would warrant more playing time. Unfortunately, his signs of development have been mild at best.
After eight interceptions during his final season at Iowa, Jackson is still waiting for his first career pick in the NFL. Needless to say, those same ball skills he displayed in college have not translated to the next level.
It doesn't help that when Jackson does get his chances, his aggressiveness leads him to grab opposing receivers only to draw a penalty. Consequently, coaches have grown more and more distrustful of throwing him out onto the field.
Five of his 15 career starts came in 2021 after regular starter Kevin King suffered a quad injury. Even though Jackson’s play was solid, he was quickly replaced by King once he was healthy enough to return. When Jackson failed to bring any value to special teams, Green Bay saw no reason to activate him on gameday.
Jackson now has a cleaner slater with a new defensive coordinator following three years under Mike Pettine. Perhaps Joe Barry will find spots where Jackson can be successful, or maybe a parting of ways is inevitable.
The Packers selected two corners in this year’s draft, and both have a lot of upsides. Jackson could easily find himself buried on the depth chart once again if he doesn’t show real improvement. His best shot of making the team is consistently making plays in practice and the preseason. Even then, it will be hard for him to see the field during the regular season unless injuries afford him more opportunities.
Of course, there are a number of possible outcomes when it comes to Jackson’s future in Green Bay. However, Jackson’s career to this point has been nothing short of a disappointment, and now a lot is riding on what could be his final training camp on the team that drafted him with a top 50 pick.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (35)
Coldworld
July 23, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Yes, unless Barry finds a new role and he excels at it in camp, he’s gone. The lack of faith in him at the end of last year was shocking. He’s going to have to really show up in camp and games to survive and overcome coaches lack of faith—only Barry is new.
Guam
July 23, 2021 at 02:23 pm
And I don't see him showing up in camp or games. He is gone.
jannesbjornson
July 23, 2021 at 04:25 pm
He's Gutedkunst's guy, Barry doesn't care. He viewed the film.
Nerd
July 26, 2021 at 05:52 am
"Even though Jackson's play was solid." lol
Pettine has his guys that he likes, whatever. Jackson and St. Brown need to do more Special Teams, we get it.
mnbadger
July 23, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Hopefully, we can at least trade him for a 6th/7th rounder. Far from his draft position. GPG
Heebz60
July 23, 2021 at 02:56 pm
Why would any team trade for a guy they think is going to get cut, and is going to be a development guy anyway? Just wait for him to get cut and get him for nothing, and put him on the practice squad to show what he has.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 01:13 am
Your kidding right? After one yr he might have been worth a late round flyer. Right now no one would give up a 6 pack for him. The time to trade him is long since past. He has no value whatsoever to another team unless they can pick him up for nothing and see if he might fit their scheme.
He made a living in college by picking off TJ Barrett and Hornibroke to the tune of 5 INT's and his 2 TDs. Beyond those 2 he didn't show ball skills.
stockholder
July 23, 2021 at 12:47 pm
I just don't see anybody jumping ahead of Josh Jackson: " ON THAT CROWDED DEPTH CHART. " Jarrett Bush wasn't great, and the packers kept him. The only way Jackson is gone is; if it's about $$$. He'll make the roster just for a comp pick.
barutanseijin
July 23, 2021 at 03:25 pm
Jarret Bush was excellent on special teams. Subbing as a DB was just gravy.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 01:18 am
Bush at least was a very good ST player, Jackson can't even do that! What good is it keeping a CB on the bottom of the depth chart thats been given many chances and that offers NOTHING on ST!
Too get a comp pick someone would have to actually sign him in FA. Wny would any team do that now? He'll get cut and they can get him for nothing.
Lphill
July 23, 2021 at 02:45 pm
Packers defense , 1 proven D lineman, no proven inside linebackers, 1 standout corner with no depth behind him.
LambeauPlain
July 23, 2021 at 03:22 pm
Amazing the Packers #13 rated D last year got it done with all that lack of talent you cite!
Actually the front 5 can be rather good. The Safeties are a top NFL tandem according to analysts with actual NFL knowledge, and the CBs with Alex and Stokes and Jean-Charles with some good young prospects and a good pro in King and maybe Jackson has a renaissance with Barry's zone coverage preference (Jackson thrive in Z at Iowa).
I am a glass half full fan.
Leatherhead
July 23, 2021 at 04:08 pm
And yet, it’s been an above average defense the last two years. Can you reconcile that?
Lphill
July 23, 2021 at 04:52 pm
How was defense against Tampa?
Leatherhead
July 23, 2021 at 07:30 pm
Pretty good. They got three takeaways. They also held Tampa to fewer passing yards, fewer rushing yards, and fewer total yards than we got. Our defense outperformed Tampa’s. The 31 points they totaled included two touchdowns that followed turnovers.
packer132
July 24, 2021 at 08:23 pm
Why are you so negative on the team you follow? Maybe you should try another team.
LambeauPlain
July 23, 2021 at 03:24 pm
Jackson might be a decent safety playing Zone in a two high scheme Barry prefers. Heck, he may also be a serviceable CB with Zone as he was at Iowa playing Z.
mattgsx
July 23, 2021 at 03:46 pm
I wouldn't be surprised if they try him at safety. Bonus if it works is that it solves another issue since Savage can't play two spots at the same time.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 01:20 am
To be a decent Safety he would actually have to be willing and able to tackle someone! Jackson is afraid of his own shadow hitting him!
Leatherhead
July 23, 2021 at 04:11 pm
I do not see six CB on this roster who are better than Jackson.
Alexander, King, Sullivan, Stokes……who else?
Leatherhead
July 23, 2021 at 07:34 pm
I love it? Downvotes, but no answers. It’s like “I don’t like you, or what you said, but I have no argument “.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 01:21 am
Who else? Guys that can play ST, that's who!
Leatherhead
July 24, 2021 at 03:07 am
For example?
greengold
July 24, 2021 at 07:28 am
Hey Leatherhead. I think Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabion Ento & Ka’dar Hollman all stand a real chance to push Josh Jackson off this roster.
Jackson could turn things around, as zone is Jackson’s bag, and Barry’s D will employ a lot of zone mixed with man. It’s one of many big TC battles this year, and I doubt Josh Jackson survives. His cap figure works against him here too.
Top 5 Packer players in the biggest fights for their positions:
1. Oren Burks
2. Dexter Williams
3. Josh Jackson
4. Will Redmond
5. Ty Summers
I’ll be surprised to see any of them survive. Seems that Summers would be the most likely of this group to stay.
jannesbjornson
July 24, 2021 at 01:30 pm
Cogent commentary. Samuel's kid may surprise as a slot CB.
Leatherhead
July 24, 2021 at 07:36 pm
Thank you for the alternative players you suggested. I would love it if we had six corners better than Jackson, but he’s started games and played OK, which your suggestions haven’t. And Jackson is a couple of years more experienced and physically mature. Finally, Jackson isn’t practice squad eligible and the others are.
So instead of just throwing away a young, veteran starter, I see Jackson making the 53. I do not see six CBS on the roster ahead of him. I see only 4.
Packers0808
July 23, 2021 at 09:21 pm
Sportsbook has Rodgers retirement announcement for early next week. Oddsmakers are usually pretty knowledgeable! We will see if they are right shortly I imagine! I think they are full of hooey actually!
packer132
July 23, 2021 at 10:14 pm
I saw retirement news in May, and bookies could be trying to con people into betting large on Rodgers retiring and cashing in when he starts week #1. I expect Adams and Rodgers in New Orleans beating the Saints without injured star WR Michael Thomas.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 01:24 am
If he wants to retire so be it. He can feel free to pay the Packers back about 35M in guarantees he didn't see the field for but has been paid! He won't be able to keep that, and he will have to give it directly from his own pocket and he won't get a damn thing.
Talk about an empty threat!
rstain99
July 24, 2021 at 06:50 am
I am ready to move on sorry, what a drama queen. GB brass was all over Favre back in summer of 2008, to me no comparison #4 would have stayed in GB given the chance. This guy thinks he is better than everyone (talented no question) smarter (Game show) Shame they look like maybe take their lumps with Love not sure he is ready but life goes on. AR and now Davante are not bigger than team, this team had a chance to make some noise if the defense became average or better. 1 championship in all these years and you think you are bigger than the team. Hope by season's end there will be a Love-fest in Titletown.
Stroh
July 24, 2021 at 09:42 am
Honestly I think Rodgers has just adopted a business posture to use what leverage he has to get what he wants. IMO that is more guaranteed years and maybe more money. I don't think he's been a drama queen. Would a drama queen keep quiet for the whole offseason? I don't think so... A drama queen would draw as much attention to himself as possible by talking as much as possible. He's been the opposite!
A business negotiation is usually kept quiet by both parties unless it somehow improves his leverage. That is more in line w/ the way Rodgers has been the entire offseason!
Ferrari-Driver
July 23, 2021 at 09:45 pm
All of us have read where the NFL draft is somewhat of a "Crap Shoot" and I think Jackson is a perfect example. Prior to the draft some prognosticators had Green Bay even taking Jackson in the first round.
I was one of those who thought Green Bay had a steal when they landed him in the 2nd round and felt almost like we had two first round talents after the 2nd round was completed. The main negative I read about prior to the draft was the lack of elite corner back speed. Well the 5 or so interceptions he made at Iowa his senior year had me fooled into think the guy was just a super "Ball Hawk".
I feel like Jackson has been give more than a fair chance to justify his 2nd round draft position, but it's just one of those things that justifies "Crap Shoot" term that is periodically used. I'm afraid that he just isn't quite good enough to play in the talent rich National Football League.
MarkinMadison
July 24, 2021 at 04:55 am
As a Hawkeye fan I was always afraid of the Jackson pick. The Packers keep picking up DBs from Iowa. It never works out for the player, at least not in Green Bay. I chalk it up to scheme and speed. As others have noted, Iowa runs a zone-heavy scheme. Additionally, Iowa rarely gets guys who have speed. I tried to google to see when was the last time Iowa had a guy with legit 4.4 speed. Jackson, at 4.49, was the only hit I found. (I also found a link to a story, the tag line suggesting someone ran a sub-4.4, but the article it linked to had nothing.) Jackson has been more disappointing than most, but he was known for being a little grabby even in college. I just can't see him turning the corner.
rstain99
July 24, 2021 at 06:54 am
not even a good ST player certainly had a few fooled, its 4th down and long for him.
packer132
July 24, 2021 at 08:22 pm
Jackson once played special teams, but has not recently. He was a healthy scratch for the last few games, and I think is one of the first cuts after training camp.