Donte

Jackson

Jackson was expected to be traded or released, and now he heads to the Steelers as part of the Diontae Johnson deal. He is due a $4 million roster bonus on March 16th, which will now be paid by Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career thus far with the Panthers, starting in all but four of his 80 career games. He finished last season with five passes defended, a forced fumble, and no interceptions. Jackson now joins a Steelers secondary in need of corner help next to Joey Porter.

Johnson had been vocal about his unhappiness in the Steelers offense, and now he reportedly heads to the Panthers to catch passes from Bryce Young. He is due a $3 million roster bonus on Friday that the Panthers will now pay, in addition to taking on his contract, which will expire at the end of the 2024 season. Johnson posted 51 receptions for 717 yards in 2023, operating as one of the best receivers in terms of separation in the league. His production dipped to a career-low 10.3 YPR in 2022 with zero touchdowns after a 100-catch, 1000-yard season in 2021. He continued to face competition from George Pickens while seeing lackluster quarterback play in 2023. Johnson will be the top receiving option in Carolina, though his fantasy viability will still be capped to WR2 status while Young and the new Panthers staff develop the offense. The Steelers also send a seventh-round pick to the Panthers and receive CB Dontae Jackson and a sixth-round pick in return.

Jackson is due a $4 million roster bonus on March 16, which can be viewed as the presumed deadline for the team to move on from him. Moving on from the former second-round pick would save the Panthers $5.9 million in cap space, but he’d also count as $9.8 million in dead cap. Jackson totaled 59 tackles in 16 games for the Panthers last season and earned a PFF coverage grade of 66.6. Jackson will be 28 at the start of next season and should draw plenty of interest on the open market should he hit free agency.

Carolina’s top cornerback injured his back during Week 15 against the Falcons and did not return to the game. He’s now starting the week on the wrong side of being ready to play. Considering the Panthers only have two wins, there is no reason for Jackson to rush back if he’s not healthy. If Jackson were to be unable to go, that would be a boost for Jordan Love and the Packers receivers, except that we’re not yet sure which Packers receivers will be healthy enough to play in Week 16 either.

Jackson went into the medical tent in the first half. He emerged from and stayed on the sidelines. Jackson then appeared to be working toward a return but never managed to retake the field. A weakened secondary is not what the Panthers need as they attempt to quell Justin Jefferson.

Jackson went down with the Achilles injury on Thursday versus the Falcons and will now miss the remainder of the season. After re-signing with the Panthers on a three-year deal in the offseason, Jackson was having a strong 2022 campaign before suffering the injury. He had two interceptions, three pass defenses, and 35 combined tackles in nine appearances.

Jackson suffered a hamstring injury against the Giants last week and reportedly underwent an MRI on Monday. He got in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday, however, suggesting he will be ready to go on Sunday.

Jackson, the Panther top corner, is considered day-to-day with his hamstring injury. That’s decent news after he left against the Giants with and did not return. If he ultimately misses time it will be a blow to a defense that has yet to face a major test at quarterback after getting Jacoby Brissett and Daniel Jones to start the season. The Panthers face Jameis Winston and the Saints in Week 3 followed by Kyler Murray and the Cardinals in Week 4.

The Panthers let Jackson test the market before returning to the team. The 26-year-old played through a core muscle injury for most of last season, missing the final five games on IR. Jackson remained productive when healthy, finishing with 50 solo tackles, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups. Signing Jackson means the Panthers are unlikely to re-sign Stephon Gilmore. Jackson will start opposite 2021 first-rounder Jaycee Horn in the Panthers’ zone-scheme.

The Panthers will be without Jackson, a starting corner, for at least three weeks. Jackson has two interceptions through Week 12 and has been graded by Pro Football Focus as Carolina’s second best coverage corner.