When will Clemson’s Amari Rodgers be back? Dabo says it may be sooner than you think
Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers suffered a torn ACL during Monday’s spring practice, but Tigers coach Dabo Swinney is hopeful that Rodgers will be healthy at some point during the 2019 season.
Rodgers is set to have surgery on his torn ACL on his right knee on Friday and will begin the rehab process then.
An ACL injury typically takes at least six-to-nine months to recover from, and Clemson opens the season on Aug. 29, about five months from now.
Swinney pointed to former players Sam Cooper and Chad Kelly suffering torn ACLs during the spring game on April 13, 2013 and being available for the season opener against Georgia less than five months later as the reason he is optimistic Rodgers could play at some point in 2019.
“Oh yea. Oh heck yea. Shoot, we had who was it, Sam Cooper and Chad Kelly I think tore their ACL on the spring game day, which I think that spring game was later, like maybe the second week of April, and they played against Georgia like August 31st if I remember correctly,” Swinney said. “So yea, absolutely. Everybody responds differently to those type of injuries.”
Swinney said that a lot of the speed of the recovery will depend on how hard Rodgers works and how he progresses on his own. Clemson made it clear it will operate on his timeline.
Rodgers, a native of Tennessee and the son of Vols assistant coach Tee Martin, is one of the most relentless workers on Clemson’s football team. He is among the smartest players Clemson co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Jeff Scott has ever worked with and he is known for the diligence he brings to his craft on an everyday basis.
Even Friday evening, the junior slot receiver was in huddles with his teammates and providing leadership in his new role.
“It was a clean injury. But a lot of it is just who that person is and how they’re going to grind through the rehab,” Swinney said. “And let me just tell you, Amari, he don’t do anything half way. He’ll pour everything he’s got into getting himself back and he’ll be better than ever. I mean, Deshaun Watson made All-Pro this year with two torn ACls. I mean, they’re not cutting his leg off.”
Rodgers played Clemson’s two-man position a season ago, but was expected to fill the void Hunter Renfrow left behind at slot receiver for the upcoming 2019 season.
The plan was for Rodgers to slide inside, while Tee Higgins played Clemson’s traditional nine-man spot and Justyn Ross lined up opposite of him at the two-man outside.
A month into spring practice, Rodgers was making solid progress in his new position as he studied the ins and outs of playing in space differently.
A season ago, as a sophomore, he caught 55 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns.
“He’s gonna be back. And it’s unfortunate. It’s just part of his journey,” Swinney said. “You’ve just gotta own it and embrace it. He was gonna grind anyway this summer, so now he’s just grinding to get himself back strong and healthy and we’ll see where he is once we get into fall camp and make a decision there. “
Clemson Spring Football Game
When: Saturday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson
Admission: Free
TV: ESPN2