Chris Rodriguez, the Jaguars' new running back, participated in team drills for the first time during Sunday's training camp practice.
The addition of Rodriguez this offseason has added another physical presence to the Jacksonville backfield. His ability to make defenders miss can be a real differentiator for him.
Rodriguez had been limited to individual work in the first three practices, ramping up following his return from a foot injury that sidelined him during OTAs and minicamp.
Without Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten has shouldered the first-team running back reps and took advantage of those opportunities.
Rodriguez and Tuten were expected to compete for the RB1 role, but regardless of who owns that title, both backs are expected to play key roles this season.
The Jaguars signed Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and his presence has been expected to boost the team's running game.
According to Next Gen Stats, last season Rodriguez ranked eighth among all running backs in average yards after contact, and 14th in rush yards over expected per attempt.
As Jaguars' running backs coach Liam Coen said earlier in the week, we won't truly begin to see the impact that Rodriguez can have until the pads come on.
"What he brings to this team, I don't think any of us are going to see throughout the entire training camp, honestly," Coen said. "Until we play tackle football, it's going to be very difficult for all of us here to gain a true appreciation for who he is and what he does."
Rodriguez's ability to make defenders miss and his physical presence in the backfield make him a valuable asset to the Jaguars' running game.
The team will continue to monitor his progress and see how he adapts to the team's system and playing style.
With the regular season just around the corner, the Jaguars will be looking to see if Rodriguez can live up to his potential and make a significant impact on the team's running game.
As the team heads into the final stretch of training camp, fans will be eager to see if Rodriguez can make progress and become a key contributor to the Jaguars' offense.
Rodriguez's return to full participation in team drills is a step in the right direction, but the real test will come when the pads come on and the team starts playing tackle football.
Source: Yahoo Sports