Why J.C. Jackson's surgery may make Chargers fans nervous

On Wednesday, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said cornerback J.C. Jackson’s recent ankle surgery addressed discomfort the prized free-agent signee was feeling, not an injury. Jackson is expected to miss two to four weeks, per NFL.com.

“It’s just more about his peace of mind moving forward, to do it now,” Staley told Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “That’s what he wanted to do and we supported that.”

But the absence of Jackson, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million deal in the offseason, may make Chargers fans nervous. Here are free-agency decisions that didn't work for the Bolts over the years. 

Wide receiver Robert Meachem

In four seasons with the Saints from 2008-11, Meachem had 141 catches for 2,269 yards and 23 touchdowns. He helped the Saints to their only Super Bowl win. 

Following the 2011 season, Meachem signed a four-year contract with the Chargers for nearly $26 million, with $14 million guaranteed. For the Chargers, he had 14 catches for 207 yards in 15 games. Although he had $5 million guaranteed left on his contract, the team cut him after his only Chargers season.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor 

Do not blame the much-traveled Taylor for this one.  

Before the 2019 season, he signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Chargers. He appeared in eight games in 2019, completing four passes as a backup. The Chargers expected Taylor to be their starter in 2020, with first-round pick Justin Herbert serving as a backup. 

Taylor, who started in Week 1 that season, suffered an injury when a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung during an injection. Taylor missed Week 2. Herbert filled in for Taylor and played so well that he was named the starting quarterback. 

Taylor returned from the injury and collected $5 million from the sideline. 

Offensive tackle Jared Gaither

In March 2012, the Chargers signed Gaither to a four-year, $24.5 million contract, with $13.5 million guaranteed. He played in only four games in 2012 and became such a problem, per the San Diego Tribune, that he was told by the team to rehab an injury away from the Chargers' facility. 

Gaither was released in March 2013 and didn’t play another NFL snap. 

QB Drew Brees

Following the 2004 season, the Chargers offered Brees a deal with little guaranteed money based mainly on incentives. He demanded more. The Chargers refused. In free agency before the 2006 season, Brees signed a six-year, $60 million contract with the Saints.  

Philip Rivers, Brees' replacement, probably will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He ranks sixth in career passing yards (63,440) and touchdown passes (421). But Brees won a Super Bowl and Rivers went 5-7 in the playoffs.