In a surprising turn of events, the New England Patriots' cornerback J.C. Jackson will not be traveling with the team to Germany for their upcoming game against the Colts, as confirmed by a league source on Wednesday. This decision has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns about both Jackson's reliability and performance.

The 27-year-old cornerback will remain behind when the Patriots depart on Thursday for Frankfurt. The decision comes after Jackson returned late to the team hotel last Saturday, casting doubts on his commitment to the team. Furthermore, he was absent from Wednesday's practice at Gillette Stadium, with the team listing him on the injury report as a nonparticipant due to personal reasons.

The Patriots acquired Jackson in a trade in October to bolster their cornerback depth following a season-ending injury to rookie Christian Gonzalez. However, Jackson has not lived up to expectations since rejoining the team. In the recent loss to the Washington Football Team, Jackson did not play during the first two defensive series, raising questions about his role on the team.

Coach Bill Belichick chose not to disclose the reasoning behind Jackson's limited playing time but emphasized that it was not a disciplinary measure. Instead, he stated that "everybody played" during the game. This further adds to the uncertainty surrounding Jackson's current status on the team.

Jackson's playing time has progressively decreased since his return, starting at 96 percent of defensive snaps in Week 6 and dropping to 68 percent last week. However, this Sunday, his playing time will be reduced to zero, as he will not be participating in the game against the Colts.

In Jackson's absence, the Patriots will heavily rely on veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, along with Jack Jones, Myles Bryant, and Shaun Wade, to fill the void. Wade, who had not played in Weeks 7 and 8, started in Sunday's game due to Jackson's benching.

When asked about Jackson's re-acclimation to the team, Coach Belichick provided little insight into any potential struggles, only remarking that "his off-field training and physical health and conditioning have definitely improved."

The Patriots, currently holding a record of 2-7, will have to overcome Jackson's absence and find a way to strengthen their secondary against the Colts. As the team prepares for the match, Captain David Andrews stressed the importance of prioritizing the team and being committed to the collective goal.

The outcome of this decision regarding J.C. Jackson's participation in Sunday's game remains uncertain, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering about the implications for both the team and the cornerback's future in New England.