MINNEAPOLIS — When the Chargers’ list of inactive players was announced 90 minutes before their 28-24 victory Sunday over the Minnesota Vikings, one name stood out among the others. Cornerback J.C. Jackson was a healthy scratch from the lineup, according to Coach Brandon Staley.
Jackson, an All-Pro cornerback who is the Chargers’ highest-paid player this season with a guaranteed base salary of $12 million, and his fellow defensive backs struggled to contain the opposition in the first two games of the season, especially in Week 1, when Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa threw for 466 yards.
Staley made it clear Sunday it was “a coach’s decision” to sideline Jackson.
“We felt like going into this game that this was the group that we wanted to play with in this game,” Staley said. “We felt like it was going to give us the best chance. That’s what we did today, and I was really proud of the way our defense played together, especially the secondary.”
The Chargers began the game with Ja’Sir Taylor joining cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and Michael Davis and safeties Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman in the secondary. Davis had eight tackles, one behind team leader Kenneth Murray Jr., a linebacker.
Asked about Jackson’s possible return to the cornerback rotation next week, Staley said, “It’s to be determined.”
The Chargers’ 36-34 loss to the Dolphins on Sept. 10 was Jackson’s first game after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in a game last Oct. 23 against the Seattle Seahawks. He underwent surgery to mend a torn right patellar tendon and was limited at times during training camp.
“I feel like I’m improving, physically, yes,” Jackson said last week as the Chargers prepared to face the Vikings. “It’s not in the back of my mind. This is what it is. I’m not letting that stop anything. I’m still working, trying to get better, trying to help the team win each and every week. I’m giving it all I’ve got.”
Linebacker Eric Kendricks (hamstring), running back Austin Ekeler (ankle), offensive linemen Brenden Jaimes and Zack Bailey and defensive lineman Christopher Hinton also were inactive for Sunday’s game. Staley said last week there was no timetable for Kendricks or Ekeler to practice or play again.
MILESTONES ACHIEVED
Quarterback Justin Herbert topped 15,000 yards passing in his 52nd career game in the NFL, the second-fastest in league history behind Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs (49 games). Herbert’s 405 yards passing against the Vikings gave him 15,028 for his career.
In addition, Herbert’s three touchdown passes against the Vikings gave him 100 for his career. Only Mahomes (40 games), Dan Marino of the Dolphins (44) and Kurt Warner of the then-St. Louis Rams (50) have needed fewer games to toss 100 touchdown passes in his career.
INJURY UPDATES
Wide receiver Mike Williams suffered an apparent knee injury after making a catch and a modest gain with 1:45 left in the third quarter. He needed assistance leaving the field and was taken by cart to the locker room. Staley said after the game he had no update on Williams’ condition. … James injured his hamstring in the third quarter, and said after the game, “I’ll know more about it (Monday).”