Tag: c.j. henderson

Panthers closing in on trade with Jaguars for CB C.J. Henderson

The Panthers are nearing a trade that will send TE Dan Arnold and a third-round pick to the Jaguars for CB C.J. Henderson.

The Carolina Panthers are nearing a trade that would provide much-needed help at cornerback.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars are “closing in” on a trade that would send tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick to Jacksonville for a fifth-round pick and cornerback C.J. Henderson, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft.

In Henderson, the Panthers are getting a talented cornerback to help replace rookie Jaycee Horn, who is out indefinitely after injuring his foot during the Panthers’ win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night.

Over 10 career games with the Jaguars, Henderson produced one interception and six pass breakups. He stared Week 1 and Week 2 for the Jaguars, playing 108 total snaps. He was inactive in Week 3 while dealing with a groin injury and an illness.

With Horn out, Henderson could be an immediate starter opposite Donte Jackson.

Arnold, a fourth-year tight end, had seven catches for 84 yards in the Panthers’ first three games.

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Jaguars closing in on trade sending CB C.J. Henderson to Panthers

The Jaguars are closing in on a trade that will send C.J. Henderson, who was a top-10 pick in 2020, to the Panthers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were open to trading 2020 first-rounder C.J. Henderson before the regular season started, and while they didn’t find a trade partner this offseason, they did strike a deal on Monday. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jaguars are closing in on a trade that will send Henderson to the Panthers.

Jacksonville is giving Carolina a fifth-round pick along with Henderson, and will get back tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick in return. The deal isn’t done yet, but the two sides are closing in on getting it completed, according to Rapoport.

Henderson was selected ninth overall by the Jaguars in last year’s draft out of Florida. He played just eight games as a rookie and had one interception with six pass breakups and 36 total tackles.

In two games with Jacksonville this season, he played 108 defensive snaps and made eight tackles, with one of them going for a loss.

C.J. Henderson, A.J. Cann questionable to return in Week 2 game vs. Broncos

Two more Jaguars starters are questionable to return after leaving the game with injuries.

After losing tight end James O’Shaughnessy in the first half with an ankle injury, Jacksonville suffered another pair of injuries to their starting group. Cornerback C.J. Henderson and right guard A.J. Cann left the game with a hip injury and hamstring injury, respectively. They are both listed as questionable to return.

The Jaguars are trailing the Denver Broncos 20-7, and it seems they’ll be undermanned for the fourth quarter. With Henderson out, Chris Claybrooks and Tyson Campbell have played opposite Shaquill Griffin, while backup guard Ben Bartch is playing for Cann.

Henderson is having a very solid start to the season after failing to make much of an impact in his limited action as a rookie. Cann, meanwhile, struggled mightily in Week 1 against Houston, and entered this week with a 38.o overall grade, per Pro Football Focus.

Still, the offensive line is a thin position group for the Jaguars, and they can’t afford to lose many players in the starting group. Similar depth issues also exist at corner, so it’s imperative that both of these players are able to return to the field in the near future.

C.J. Henderson among the highest-graded corners in single coverage during preseason

Henderson looked like the Jags’ best defensive back during the preseason, and PFF’s advanced analytics back that up.

It’s hard to name a player on the defensive side of the ball in Jacksonville who has had a more monumental preseason than C.J. Henderson. At the beginning of the preseason, trade rumors were surrounding a player who no one had seen take the field in nearly a calendar year.

Henderson quickly silenced any talk of a trade, however. He was dominant in the preseason and appears to be far and away the best defensive back on the roster. He certainly showed some signs of that during his shortened rookie season, but he seems to have taken a major step forward this offseason.

With his spot on the Jaguars now cemented, Henderson enters the regular season as the team’s likely No. 1 corner. And that’s a role he has earned.

According to Pro Football Focus, Henderson was the third-highest graded NFL player in single coverage during the preseason, behind only Denver rookie Patrick Surtain II and Tampa Bay’s Herb Miller III. Henderson graded at 92.3, just below Miller at 92.4.

The stat-sheet doesn’t show it, as Henderson only totaled one pass breakup during the preseason, but his impact went beyond that and he did not allow much from the opposing passing game. Jacksonville’s secondary has a lot to prove after it was one of the most porous units in football last season, but Henderson should be a leader of a group that is expected to improve with potentially an entirely new starting group around him.

C.J. Henderson delivers standout performance in preseason opener

Henderson silenced any trade rumors with an impressive performance in the Jaguars’ preseason opener.

Perhaps no other player on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster has been subject to more negative speculation this offseason than second-year cornerback C.J. Henderson. After injuries limited the 2020 ninth overall pick to just eight games as a rookie, the team signed a high-profile free agent in Shaquill Griffin at the position and also drafted a corner in the second round in Tyson Campbell.

Pair that with rumors reported last week that the Jaguars could be looking to trade Henderson, and he was a bit of an afterthought heading into the Jags preseason opener against Cleveland on Saturday.

Henderson silenced those critics, though, with an excellent performance in the loss to Cleveland. Henderson was targeted four times, allowing just two catches for 15 yards. He also broke up two passes and finished with the lowest passer rating allowed on the team.

“[He played] 28 plays. He played pretty good,” coach Urban Meyer said about Henderson’s performance. “He didn’t get winning performance, but he got honorable mention. He is very talented obviously, but it’s just seeing him getting back in game mode.”

It’s possible the team could still be shopping Henderson, but he was arguably the most impressive defensive back on the field Saturday. For a team that was once one of the worst against the pass, he may not be a player the team could afford to part ways with.

Report: Saints consider Jaguars’ C.J. Henderson in cornerback trade talks

Should the Saints consider trading for Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson, the 9th pick in the 2020 draft?

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Well that’s newsworthy. It’s been an open secret that the New Orleans Saints have turned over every stone they could get their hands on to look for help at cornerback this offseason, dating back to fruitless efforts in the early days of free agency and bold trade maneuvering during the 2021 NFL draft. They’ve cycled through a small crowd of bottom-feeding free agents early in training camp to no avail.

Still, it’s surprising to see a specific name connected to them. The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan reported Monday that the Saints are looking for trade partners across the league, including the Jacksonville Jaguars — targeting C.J. Henderson, their first round pick in the 2020 draft.

Henderson was selected ninth overall but appeared in just eight games as a rookie due to various injuries, with a groin muscle injury cutting his first year in the NFL short. He also had labrum surgery this summer and missed time in training camp on the COVID-19 reserve list. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that multiple league executives believe the Jaguars have made Henderson available, though Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed adds that Jacksonville’s new Urban Meyer-Trent Baalke braintrust would be willing to unload Henderson “if they can get a haul.”

What that means is anyone’s guess. It could mean New Orleans’ first round pick in 2022. Maybe it means a franchise player like disgruntled wide receiver Michael Thomas, an old favorite of Meyer’s from their days together at Ohio State. But given the Jaguars’ investments at wideout and the $22.5 million in dead money that would fall on New Orleans’ books (doubling their current free cap space), that’s a hard sell. Jacksonville would have to throw some draft picks of their own into the mix to even the scales.

It’s very much a developing situation for, well, everyone. Keep an eye out for updates.

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Poll: Who will lead the Jags in interceptions this season?

The Jags made a lot of upgrades to their secondary and that could mean one of their new additions will lead the team in picks.

It goes without saying the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense will need to play better defensively in 2021. That will include garnering more interceptions (and turnovers in general) after only accumulating 12 last season.

Leading the way for the Jags surprisingly was linebacker Joe Schobert, who accumulated three picks in 2020. Behind him were cornerback Sidney Jones IV and safety Andrew Wingard with two picks individually while everyone else with interceptions had just one.

This year, however, the Jags are expected to take a step forward defensively, especially after adding what they did in the secondary this offseason. Those additions included a former Pro Bowler in Shaq Griffin and safety Rayshawn Jenkins. They also added help in the trenches with additions like Jihad Ward, Malcom Brown, and Roy Robertson-Harrison, who could help bolster the pass-rush and create opportunities for the back seven.

Lastly, the Jags added some help for the secondary early in the 2021 draft in cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Andre Cisco. Of the two, Cisco appears to have the most potential as a ballhawk, exiting his career at Syracuse with an impressive 13 picks. Campbell, on the other hand, only had one pick in three seasons at Georgia.

When looking at the aforementioned names, the obvious choice to snag the most picks is Griffin, but if Cisco acquires a starting safety job, he’s proven he has the ball skills to be the guy despite being a rookie. However, for those who would prefer to play it safe, the former Pro Bowler, Griffin, may be the right choice.

As for a dark horse candidate, fans should watch out for C.J. Henderson, the Jags’ former first-round pick from last season. He’s still recovering from labrum surgery and was sidelined during the spring, but could be good to go during training camp. If so, the former Gator could return to his starting role as an improved player after flashing at times in 2020.

Now, we’d like to hear from you all at home on the matter. Who will be the Jags’ leader in picks this upcoming season? Let us know in the poll below.

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Former Jags DB Will Blackmon shares his thoughts on C.J. Henderson

Former Jags DB Will Blackmon is a fan of C.J. Henderson’s skill set and believes the proper coaching will help him flourish more heading forward.

After a rookie season that was cut short by a groin injury, second-year Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson will have many eyes watching him. As is the case with many rookies, there were highs and lows for the 2020 first-round selection, but the highs left fans optimistic though he played in just eight games.

After having a chance to talk to former Jags defensive back Will Blackmon in our last episode of “Bleav in the Jags,” it’s clear that Jags fans aren’t alone in their thoughts towards Henderson. The former Super Bowl XLVI champion, who knows Henderson, spoke highly of his demeanor and elaborated on a key he feels would elevate Henderson’s game.

“I actually got to spend a lot of time with C.J. in Texas because Deion Sanders had his camp there and invited me down there to coach where he had C.J. there as a guest.” Blackmon said. “So he and I got to talking and my prediction was for C.J. to actually go to Jacksonville.

I just loved his maturity as a player. He kind of reminded me [in terms of his demeanor] of like a Charles Woodson. Just his presence and how he is, obviously Charles was a different player. But I’d like for C.J., for himself, to do well. He just has to be around the right person and coach to succeed. That’s the biggest thing because a lot of guys disappear and a lot of people don’t realize it, but coaching is a huge factor.”

The point Blackmon made about Henderson’s maturity is an excellent one when reflecting on the 2020 season. This was displayed in his first, second, and eighth games where he shined and gave fans who were paying close attention optimism.

Week 1, against the Indianapolis Colts, Henderson acquired the second-highest grade (84.2) of any rookie from the 2020 draft class, according to Pro Football Focus. That came after he had five tackles, three pass breakups, and a pick against a player who the Jags often struggled against in Philip Rivers.

Afterward, in Week 2’s game against the Tennessee Titans, Henderson showed off his tackling ability by bringing Derrick Henry down in a few one-on-one situations. While he did give up a touchdown to Corey Davis, he remained poised through the game and made plays when the Titans came his way.

Henderson also had a notable week against the Green Bay Packers Week 10. He only allowed four catches out of six targets for 42 yards and also caused a fumble on star receiver Davante Adams. Instead of folding against a Hall-of-Famer in Aaron Rodgers, Henderson was a defensive standout at Lambeau Field, which ended up being his last game of the season due to his injury.

As for the coaching aspect of things, there was a staff change in Jacksonville with Urban Meyer taking over. He brought in one of his former college assistants, Chris Ash, as the Jags defensive backs and safeties coach, who is entering the NFL for the first time. However, with Ash coaching in the collegiate realm from 1997-2020, he should know how to relate to young players.

Another plus for Henderson could be the return of cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, who was with Henderson last year. He’s one of the members Meyer felt comfortable with retaining, and the familiarity between him and Henderson can only help.

Heading forward, it will be interesting to see if Henderson can build off his high moments as a rookie while learning from the lows. With the Jags having ample cap space, there will be improvements made in the trenches and within his group (the secondary), which should help him to take the step he’s proven to be capable of.

Eagles land CB and a versatile weapon for QB Carson Wentz in ESPN’s 2020 NFL re-draft

The Philadelphia Eagles landed cornerback C.J. Henderson and wide receiver Devin Duvernay in a 2020 NFL re-draft from ESPN.com.

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The Philadelphia Eagles whiffed in the 2020 NFL Draft according to experts and pundits, who cite passing on Justin Jefferson and the selection of Jalen Hurts, as the downfall for Doug Pederson.

ESPN had their NFL Nation reporters re-draft the first two rounds — all 64 picks — using the knowledge of how the season turned out for each rookie.

After watching the Eagles implode in the secondary time after time, Tim McManus went with Jaguars’ talented rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson, passing on Jalen Reagor.

21. Philadelphia Eagles
Original pick: Jalen Reagor, WR
New pick: CJ Henderson, CB

Henderson fell down the board mainly because he was limited to eight games with a groin injury. But he was the second corner taken in the real draft for a reason. Henderson has elite speed and athleticism, is a playmaker, and would fill a void at the starting cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay. There’s an argument to stick with Reagor, who was limited by injury his rookie year but still has plenty of upside, but there’s enough depth at WR to address the position later in the draft. — Tim McManus

With their second-round pick, McManus erases Howie Roseman’s perceived mistake, getting Carson Wentz a weapon instead of competition with the No. 53 overall pick, landing former Texas speedster, Devin Duvernay.

53. Philadelphia Eagles
Original pick: Jalen Hurts, QB
New pick: Devin Duvernay, WR

Duvernay did a little of everything for Baltimore this season, making an impact as a receiver (20 catches, 201 yards), a runner (4 carries, 70 yards) and a kick returner, where he finished with 578 yards, including a 93-yarder. The Eagles would welcome that kind of versatility to their attack. — Tim McManus

In the re-draft, Reagor falls down to No. 30 overall, while the talented Hurts becomes the Colts quarterback of the future after he goes to Indianapolis at No. 44 overall.

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Jags HC Doug Marrone provides update on CB C.J. Henderson

Per Doug Marrone, it appears the Jags are unlikely to get rookie C.J. Henderson back this regular season.

It appears Jacksonville Jaguars fans may have seen the last of first-round pick C.J. Henderson for the 2020 season, who went on injured reserve Nov. 19 with a groin injury. Head coach Doug Marrone provided an update on the rookie’s status, and after speaking with the medical staff, Marrone informed the media that Henderson’s injury is severe enough to prevent a 2020 return.

“Actually, we’ve met with the medical staff and we just don’t feel like he’s going to be recovered to be able to play,” Marrone said. “So, we don’t feel he’ll be back.”

Henderson was a player fans were very excited about as the Jags took him with their first draft selection (No. 9) in April out of Florida. He didn’t disappoint initially in 2020, impressing in the Jags’ Week 1 and Week 2 games against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. However, after that, there was some inconsistency on his part, which is expected for rookies who play such a difficult position.

With the coronavirus pandemic taking place this year, Henderson and the Jags’ rookie class as a whole didn’t have a regular offseason, so he definitely should be given a break. Maybe things will be a little closer to normal next spring and summer, which would allow Henderson to pick up where he left off Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers as he impressed against receiver Davante Adam.

With Henderson’s return unlikely this season, he’ll exit the 2020 season with eight starts, 36 tackles, six pass breakups, a pick, and a forced fumble. He’ll also have the opportunity to improve his Pro Football Focus grade of 57.9, which ranks him 69th of 126 eligible players at the cornerback position.