Clemson starting receiver Amari Rodgers suffers torn ACL

Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers suffered a leg injury during Monday evening’s practice, and a source confirmed to The State Tuesday afternoon that Rodgers has a torn ACL.

Rodgers is set to have surgery April 5, according to the source, and is hoping to still play at some point during the 2019 season.

Rodgers started all 15 games for the Tigers last season and finished second on the team in catches with 55 for 575 yards and four scores. Rodgers also returned punts for the Tigers, returning one for a touchdown last season.

“God gives his toughest soldiers the toughest tasks,” Rodgers tweeted Tuesday morning. “I’ll be back better than ever, believe that.”

Rodgers played outside at the two-man spot in 2018 but was set to move inside to the five-man this year with the departure of Hunter Renfrow.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney was asked about injuries on Monday and did not mention Rodgers as being hurt.

“Everybody was pretty much back today,” Swinney said. “I think we only had just a couple of guys that we held out today, but nothing major coming into practice.”

With Rodgers set to miss an extended period of time, it would obviously be a big blow for a Tigers team that was slated to return seven starters on offense from last year’s national title squad. Still, Clemson returns a couple of wide outs that have proven they are two of the best in the nation.

Rising sophomore Justyn Ross led the Tigers with 1,000 receiving yards in 2018, despite playing in a reserve role, while Tee Higgins also returns after leading Clemson in catches (59) and touchdowns (12) last year. Ross and Higgins are slated to be two of Clemson’s three starting receivers in 2019, and Rodgers was set to join them in the starting lineup.

Clemson has plenty of contenders to move into the starting lineup if Rodgers misses games, including sophomore Derion Kendrick, junior Cornell Powell and junior T.J. Chase.

The Tigers could also move Ross inside some and play 6-4 receivers Diondre Overton, Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson outside. Overton is a senior, while Ngata and Ladson are early enrollees.

Ngata and Ladson have both been mentioned as players that have been impressed during spring practice.