The Jacksonville Jaguars have added their first new player of the 2026 NFL year.
As first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, then local beat reporters Michael DiRocco and Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville signed former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year contract. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the
Rodriguez is an indirect replacement for Travis Etienne, who officially signed with the New Orleans Saints when the league year began at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. He won’t
be expected to fully assume the high volume of touches that Etienne leaves.
Instead, Rodriguez is likely to enter a three-man committee at running back, alongside 2025 Day 3 draft picks Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. Tuten figures to lead the backfield, with Rodriguez serving as a between-the-tackles grinder on early downs and Allen providing pass protection on late downs.
Rodriguez posted a career-high 500 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns, albeit a career-low 4.5 yards per attempt, in 2025. He totalled 920 yards and 10 scores on the ground — and just 6 total receptions — across three seasons with the Commanders. The popular online opinion from that fanbase is that Rodriguez was underutilized.
Before being drafted by Washington, Rodriguez became Kentucky’s third all-time leading rusher and second all-time leading rushing scorer over a five-year career that included two team captain selections and a second-team All-SEC selection. His offensive coordinator that season was Liam Coen.
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