Between now and training camp, we will be going through the Jacksonville Jaguars’ full 90-man roster, previewing each player.
Up next is running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who wears No. 24.
Profile
How long has Chris Rodriguez been with the Jaguars?
Rodriguez was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he ended his rookie season on injured reserve. He was waived by the Commanders in 2024 after training camp, and was then signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster later that season, and played one more season in Washington before being signed by the Jaguars in free agency to a two-year, $10 million deal.
Recapping Chris Rodriguez’s 2025 season
This past season can be considered Rodriguez’s breakout season, as he had 112 carries for 500 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in 13 games for the Commanders. He also caught three passes for 30 yards.
Where Rodriguez excelled and what drew the Jaguars to him was his ability to create as a ball carrier. Rodriguez ranked eighth among all running backs in average yards after contact. He would also rank 14th in rush yards over expected per attempt, according to Next Gen Stats.
“What I always really appreciate about C-Rod when working with him at Kentucky and then following his career over the last few years has been his rushing yards over expected and his yards after contact,” Liam Coen said. “I think those are the two areas you look at where you say, did you get more or about what the play was blocked for? And are people bouncing off of you? Do you know how to make people miss? Like how do you make people miss, there’s a lot of different ways to do that. And how do you gain yards? There’s a lot of different ways to skin that cat.”
Looking ahead to 2026 for Chris Rodriguez
Rodriguez will, technically speaking, be competing with Bhayshul Tuten for the RB1 spot to replace Travis Etienne. However, who is named RB1 and RB2 may not ultimately matter much, as head coach Liam Coen is looking to take a committee-like approach between his three running backs, with each receiving regular playing time. Each of the running backs have different strengths, and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski outlined what the Jaguars think Rodriguez can bring to the table.
“The physicality, the play style, the strength, the intelligence as a player,” he said during OTAs. “Those things are evident right away. Then you talk about the contact balance and his ability to find efficient runs sometimes in dirty looks and looks that might not be blocked as cleanly as possible.”
Rodriguez did not participate in OTAs or minicamp due to a foot injury, but he is expected to be ready for training camp.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars roster preview: What can Chris Rodriguez bring to backfield?
Reporting by Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
