The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t treating Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s return like a race, and there’s a simple reason for that: they don’t need to.
Rodriguez was cleared in time for the start of training camp on Wednesday, but his work was limited to individual drills after a foot injury wiped out his entire spring. He missed OTAs and minicamp after getting hurt on the first day of the offseason program, and the Jaguars are taking a measured approach with the running back they brought in as their only free-agent addition this offseason.
That means no full-speed push, no urgency, and no panic. Not in late July. Not when the bigger goal is having him ready for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
On Wednesday, the media saw Rodriguez on the practice field for the first time since he signed with Jacksonville in March. Even in that limited setting, it was a meaningful step forward for a player the Jaguars view as an important part of their rushing attack, especially after the unit struggled down the stretch last season.
Head coach Liam Coen made it clear he’s comfortable letting the process unfold slowly.
“Yeah, I mean, Chris is always, kind of Chris. So, I'm not saying he looks the same as he did at Kentucky, that's not him, but he's got the same demeanor, the same way that he approaches it, knowing that we're trying to ease him back into this thing," Coen said.
"It's a long training camp. It's a long season.
We're trying to get him back, without any sort of hiccups or bumps. And it was great to just see him back out, like, taking handoffs, right?
I mean, it's in a small sample size, but I was pleased to see him out here with us."
Coen knows Rodriguez well enough not to read too much into what can’t be seen in July. The two were together at Kentucky in 2021, when they put up big numbers, and that history gives Coen confidence in what Rodriguez can provide once the pads come on.
Rodriguez’s most recent NFL season offered a reminder of that value. With the Washington Commanders, he carried the ball 112 times and posted career highs in rushing yards with 500 and rushing touchdowns with six across 13 games and seven starts.
For Coen, that track record matters more than what Rodriguez does in a handful of non-contact camp reps.
“I think that Chris, what he brings to this team, I don't think any of us are going to see throughout the entire training camp, honestly. I mean, until we play tackle football, it's going to be very difficult for all of us here to gain a true appreciation for who he is and what he does.
I've seen it, so I do appreciate his skill set and what he brings, but just as a pro, I mean, he's a good dude. He doesn't say a ton, but he's tough," Coen said.
"I mean, he's, he's one of those glass eaters. You know, he is.
I mean, he's going to run through a wall for his teammates, for his coaches, for this organization when the time comes. Pleased to see him.
I mean, he was so down. I mean, it was a frustrating time when you get here and get hurt on the first day.
So I think he was just pleased to be able to get out here, be with his teammates, take some coaching points, and knowing that the best of C-Rod will not be seen until the pads come on and we play tackle.”
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