Clemson Football: When could Amari Rodgers return from injury?
![CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Amari Rodgers #3 of the Clemson Tigers returns a 58 yard punt for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Amari Rodgers #3 of the Clemson Tigers returns a 58 yard punt for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cfb341d4f7179aaaefabdf9513465499c270972e81ae96f20306c59cc7830a0e.jpg)
Clemson football wide receiver Amari Rodgers will miss the beginning of the 2019 season with an ACL injury, but when could he return?
Amari Rodgers will certainly be missed by Clemson football for the majority of the 2019 season.
Rodgers, who started every game in 2018, was expected to be a returning starter and play in the slot for the Tigers in 2019 after playing the ‘field’ wide receiver spot last season. In addition to being an experienced receiver, Rodgers was also a pretty consistent punt returner for the Tigers.
Now, Clemson football will need to find guys to step in and fill the void left behind after the Tiger junior went down with an ACL injury at practice Monday afternoon.
When could Rodgers return?
The recovery time for an ACL tear is anywhere between 7 to 9 months. Normally, it takes closer to the nine, sometimes 10, before an athlete is back at full strength with complete and fluid motion in the knee.
If you use the standard recovery time, that would put Rodgers getting back anywhere between early October and late December. You have to take into account that he’d be rehabbing the knee and even when cleared, it would probably take some time just getting back in the swing of things and getting into playing shape.
One of the most dangerous things an athlete can do is rush back after a serious injury and not be fully healed. It will be important for him to trust the training staff, do the rehab to the best of his ability and return when fully cleared.
With that being said, Rodgers has a few options left for this season.
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He could sit out the year and redshirt, saving two years of eligibility. He also could return later in the season, maybe right at the end, and play the final regular season game against South Carolina and then three postseason games. He would only have played in four games, so he would still retain this year of eligibility.