FOXBOROUGH -- Second-year cornerback J.C. Jackson had a moment of honesty in the Patriots locker room Thursday ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Steelers.

Jackson doesn't believe Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is among the best wide receivers in the NFL.

Here's how the exchange went.

Q: How much confidence did you get going up against some of the best WRs in NFL last season now going into your second year?

Jackson: "Who are some of the best receivers in the NFL?"

Q: JuJu [Smith-Schuster].

Jackson: "You think he's the best receiver in the NFL?"

Q: One of.

Jackson: *Rolls eyes*

A few follow-ups were later asked.

Q: You’re not buying JuJu being one of the best receivers in the league?

Jackson: “In my opinion, I don’t think so. There’s a lot of good receivers in the NFL."

Q: What do you see in him?

Jackson: “I mean, he’s a great receiver. I’m not saying that. He’s a good football player. ... He’s physical. He’s a good route runner and he has strong hands. He makes a lot of plays on the ball.”

The Patriots cornerback isn't necessarily wrong, as Smith-Schuster isn't at the level of Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, etc., but it probably wasn't the best thing to say three days before the team plays the Steelers on Sunday Night Football.

Jackson covered Smith-Schuster for most of the meeting last year and the Steelers wide out finished with four catches for 40 yards. It remains to be seen what the matchup will be this time around.