Panthers' Donte Jackson Apologizes for Criticizing HC Perry Fewell vs. Falcons

Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson was critical of interim head coach Perry Fewell's defensive play-calling after Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, saying that two touchdown passes for the Falcons were the result of "two horrible calls." 

On Thursday, he apologized for those remarks.

"Everybody in the locker room is frustrated. The season is not going how we want it to go," he said, per David Newton of ESPN. "But doesn't give me the right to go out there and say anything about anything. I was totally out of line. Apologetic to my coaches and we're moving on to Seattle. That's our main objective this week."

The Panthers have lost five games in a row and six of their last seven, falling out of the playoff picture. Long-time head coach Ron Rivera was fired amid the losing streak, and frustrations are obviously mounting in Carolina. 

Jackson said Thursday that Fewell understood those frustrations and had a long talk with the second-year cornerback:

"I was very apologetic to my coach. Coach Fewell is a great guy, very understanding. Our conversation was long. It didn't have much to do with that situation. It was about life and how to learn and bounce back. That's what makes him a great guy. He knew I was frustrated after the game. He's not going to hold that to my character. That's why we all have a ton of respect for Coach Fewell, the way he carries himself."

Jackson took issue with the coverage on a second-quarter touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley when he appeared to leave the Falcons wideout.

"Two horrible calls, two calls that we didn't call in those situations at all this week in practice. The first one was a cover two trap," Jackson said after the game. "My responsibility was to play through one, read to two and I did exactly what I did.

He was also beat by Olamide Zaccheaus for a 93-yard score in zero coverage:

"The second one, same thing. Called an engage eight blitz. We sent everybody. We leave the corners out there by themselves. The post was thrown to the opposite hash, so I was really tailing him from the beginning of that route. Zero coverage, no help, backed up with a quarterback like that. I don't care if you're Champ Bailey [or] any one of those corners on the NFL 100 list, that is a play that is hard to make for any guy."

The 24-year-old Jackson has registered 35 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections in the 2019 season. He's had a solid year, flashing the potential that made him a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, though he's been inconsistent. And his public remarks after Sunday's game weren't a great look, either.

"Donte is a young player," Fewell said Thursday of the cornerback's apology. "As I said before, we handled it internally. We moved forward."