If healthy, J.C. Jackson can be difference-maker for Chargers vs. Chiefs

Jackson, the Chargers' prized free-agent acquisition, sat out Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders while recovering from right ankle surgery.

L.A. needs a healthy Jackson against the Chiefs and their potent offense. In an easy win against the Cardinals in Week 1, K.C. QB Patrick Mahomes completed 30-of-39 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. 

Mahomes won’t have the same problems that Raiders QB Derek Carr had in a 24-19 loss to the Chargers in Week 1. Khalil Mack sacked Carr three times, a performance that will be hard to replicate against Kansas City.

Pro Football Focus ranked Kansas City’s offensive line as the ninth best coming into the season. The Vegas line ranked 29th of 32 teams. 

Jackson, who led the league with 23 pass deflections last season, can shut down an opponent's best receiver when he’s healthy. Although the Chiefs no longer have speedster Tyreek Hill, the collective talent of receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman is imposing.

Los Angeles must also account for tight end Travis Kelce, who has 77 catches for 878 yards in 15 games against the Chargers in his career, per Statmuse.  

Los Angeles' own pass attack took a huge blow on Sunday when star WR Keenan Allen left the game with a left hamstring injury. Allen's on-field rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert is hard to replace, and he'll miss this Week 2 showdown.

Allen has been ruled out, so Herbert may lean on wideouts Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. 

The Chargers would like to lean on Jackson and the defense, too, if they can.