Through a playing career in high school at West De Pere (Wis.), college at Wisconsin and the first 50 games of his NFL career for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, Cole Van Lanen’s knees remained healthy.
Professional Game No. 51 wasn’t as kind.
On Jan. 4, 2026, a day after signing a three-year, $51 million contract to stay off the free-agent market, Van Lanen sustained a right knee injury, starting a journey that reached a new benchmark on Aug. 23 when he participated in his first practice.
“I’ve heard these injuries are a grind and they are,” Van Lanen said after the Jaguars’ walk-through on Aug. 24.
Van Lanen’s grind took a major step in the right direction on Aug. 20, when he was activated off the physically unable to perform list.
“It’s been a lot of work and a lot of time,” Van Lanen said. “Definitely blessed with our (athletic training/medical) staff here. Really, really happy with where we’re at. Everything has gone great during the entire process.”
Will Van Lanen start Week 1 vs. Browns?
Coach Liam Coen expects Van Lanen to do only individual work this week as he ramps up to joining team drills. The Jaguars open the regular season Sept. 13 against the Cleveland Browns.
Coen said Van Lanen will “absolutely” have to take team practice work to be a consideration to play against the Browns.
“If he’s able to practice the week of Cleveland and be able to actually feel comfortable and feel fast and feel firm, then I’d be totally fine (playing him),” Coen said.
The benefit of activating Van Lanen from the PUP list is it allows him to take part in the walk-throughs and practice against other players during individual and positional work. During the Aug. 24 walk-through, he was the second-team right tackle, understandable considering the Jaguars have to get fill-in right tackle Walker Little as much work next to new right guard Ezra Cleveland as possible.
“That’s all up in the air,” Van Lanen said of playing in Week 1. “I’ve missed a lot of ball — that’s what it comes down to. It depends on how fast this process dials up and we’ll see where we’re at on the field and how we’re playing. But ultimately, (hopefully it does) not (take) too much time.”
Van Lanen comfortable with move to right tackle
The Jaguars and Van Lanen have never revealed the nature of the injury, but he said: “It was not the news we were expecting when the injury happened.”
Van Lanen went through individual practice work right up until two hours before the wild-card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills but did not play.
“It was playoff time, we were on a roll and I really wanted to be out there and we were going to do whatever it took as long as I couldn’t hurt myself more,” he said. “Obviously, (playing) didn’t happen and then the next goal was to get back on the field, play good football and I’m just excited to be back to work on that progression.”
Asked when he saw the figurative light at the end of the tunnel, Van Lanen said: “I would say getting into camp (on July 28). I knew where we were and we were doing really well. I knew I would be getting off PUP in the middle of camp and (then) progressing to being able to play on the field.”
Van Lanen said he and the Jaguars “molded” a rehabilitation program to equal parts get the right knee healthy and sharpen the other parts of his game.
“I’m really excited to put everything together when the time comes (to play),” he said. “My strength, my speed, my explosiveness — just because we were on the side (field) didn’t mean we couldn’t work on things. I feel we really attacked those points and I’m excited to see it translate to the field.”
When Van Lanen gets back on the field, it will be at right tackle. Anton Harrison moved from right to left tackle on July 31. Van Lanen, who finished last year at left tackle, has two starts at right tackle.
Van Lanen is confident, once he is cleared to play, he will re-gain a run- and pass-blocking rhythm.
“I don’t think it will be much time,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s like riding a bike. It’s going to take a second to adjust to the speed of the game and using my hands, but we’ve been doing (individual work) now and I’m confident in what I’m doing. (I) just have to get those team reps.”
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Cole Van Lanen 'really, really happy' with rehab process
