One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars is their position battle at running back. Bhayshul Tuten will be the first in line to fill the void Travis Etienne's exit left in the backfield, but free-agent acquisition Chris Rodriguez is also projected to get a heavy workload.
The issue is that Rodriguez has missed time in the offseason program, and the Jags haven't shared many details about his absence. The good news is that a local beat writer just dropped an update about his potential return.
The Jaguars will tentatively get Chris Rodriguez back for training camp
Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union just reported that Chris Rodriguez underwent surgery on his left foot after the offseason program, adding that the fourth-year running back is slated to be back for the beginning of training camp in July.
This echoes an early scoop from Mia O'Brien of ESPN Radio, who said that Rodriguez would be back for training camp. The news is that his absence was due to the foot surgery, which was previously unknown.
A sixth-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2021, Rodriguez was a restricted free agent in 2025 but wasn't tendered. This prompted the Jaguars to give him a two-year deal worth $10 million, making him their only external signing in free agency.
Rodriguez's 500 yards with five touchdowns don't pop off the stat sheet, but his 4.0 yards after contact ranked second among 48 running backs last year. Similarly, his rushing success rate of 45.5 percent was eighth. In Jacksonville, the former Kentucky Wildcat is expected to be part of the solution to fix the stink that held back the offense in 2025.
The latest Chris Rodriguez update is great news for the Jaguars
The truth is that the latest Chris Rodriguez update brings clarity to the running back depth chart. His absence has somewhat widened the game between him and Bhayshul Tuten, who remains firmly entrenched as the starter until further notice.
The good news is that there's only so much players can do early in the offseason program to raise their stock, and if Rodriguez is back at full strength, his absence at Organized Team Activities will be a non-issue. In fact, it's hard to see the McDonough, Georgia native fall behind sophomore LeQuint Allen Jr. or veteran DeeJay Dallas.
It's also worth noting that when Liam Coen was asked about Rodriguez's absence early in the offseason program, he didn't appear to give it too much importance. Based on the latest update, it seems like there's indeed nothing to worry about.
But even if Rodriguez weren't ready for training camp, all the other running backs could step in his absence, while also getting extra reps. Of course, it wouldn't be ideal, as he's expected to play a pivotal role on offense next season, but his absence doesn't appear to be a reason for concern, at least not now.
The Jaguars are counting on Chris Rodriguez to give their running game a boost, and based on his recovery timeline, he should be able to get it done.
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