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Patriots’ J.C. Jackson trying to prove he has No. 1 cornerback ability

At the very least, J.C. Jackson has been showing the Patriots that he’s capable of being the team’s No. 1 cornerback should they decide to move on from Stephon Gilmore.

With Gilmore out due to a knee injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Bills, Jackson stepped into the role and once again performed at a high level, and showed he had a nose for the ball while covering top wideout Stefon Diggs. Though Diggs finished with six catches for 92 yards, Jackson made some nice plays around the ball, including his fourth interception of the season, which is tied for the NFL lead.

Asked after the game if he thinks he can be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL, a confident Jackson was succinct. “Of course. Why not?” he said.

Jackson, obviously feeling good about himself, is not only relishing every big opportunity he gets but performing well when he does.

“I try to take advantage of every opportunity,” Jackson said Friday. “Coach always says you have to take advantage of your opportunities and I try to make the most of my opportunities every time I’m on the field. And just, with Steph being out and having to cover the No. 1 receiver, it just really boosts my confidence up to another level.”

Gilmore was not traded at this week’s trade deadline, meaning he will remain a Patriot through the rest of this season. But with speculation swirling about his future in New England, it’s fair to wonder what they have in the 24-year-old Jackson, who signed with the Pats as an undrafted rookie in 2018.

Jackson’s improvement from then to now is clear, but it’s obvious he’s always had confidence in himself. He said he’s taken his game to a different level mentally since entering the league, and having veterans like Gilmore and Jason McCourty in the cornerback room have certainly helped that maturation process.

“I always knew I had the ability to play and cover, but when you get to the big leagues like the NFL, I feel like everybody is good and everybody is athletic and fast,” Jackson said. “I had to learn how to watch film and really study an opponent because I wasn’t doing any of that in college or high school or whatever, so being mentally into the game, it helped me a lot. It helped me improve. I’m playing way faster and everything, so it’s a big help for me.”

It’s certainly showing through right now. Jackson has three interceptions in his last three games, and with Gilmore watching from home last Sunday, he revealed a new nickname for the third-year cornerback, calling him “Mr. INT” on Twitter. It remains to be seen if that will stick, but Jackson has the mindset for it.

“I just trust my instincts, trust my eyes and trust my techniques and fundamentals and make plays,” Jackson said. “I’m a ball hawk at the end of the day. I gotta have the ball in my hands.”

Gilmore returns

Gilmore was back at Friday’s practice as a limited participant, a promising sign for his availability in Monday night’s game in New York against the Jets. The cornerback had missed Sunday’s game against the Bills and Thursday’s practice.

Defensive linemen Lawrence Guy (shoulder) and Carl Davis (concussion) also returned to practice, while wide receiver N’Keal Harry (concussion) and running back J.J. Taylor (illness) both remained out. Isaiah Wynn (ankle) was originally listed as a limited participant in Friday’s practice, but was later ruled as a non-participant.

Wide receiver Donte Moncrief was at his second consecutive practice after being signed earlier this week. New acquisitions Isaiah Ford and Isaiah Mack were not present.



from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3522N4y
Patriots’ J.C. Jackson trying to prove he has No. 1 cornerback ability Patriots’ J.C. Jackson trying to prove he has No. 1 cornerback ability Reviewed by Admin on November 06, 2020 Rating: 5

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