Tag: Cooper Hodges

Jaguars OL Cooper Hodges reportedly underwent knee surgery

Cooper Hodges never returned from his preseason knee injury because it eventually required surgery.

It seemed like Cooper Hodges would only be temporarily sidelined when he was injured in preseason. Instead, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ seventh-round pick missed his entire rookie season on the team’s injured reserve without much of a whisper about a potential return.

According to Jaguars team reporter John Oehser, Hodges never made his return in 2023 because the patella injury he suffered eventually required surgery.

The Jaguars liked him very much – enough to keep him on the active roster entering the regular season even though he was going to start the season on injured reserve with a patella injury. That meant he took a roster spot. He eventually underwent surgery and missed the entire season. My thought is he likely would have played – and perhaps started – at some point this past season. We don’t know for certain how he would have fared. I expect he will enter the offseason and camp with a chance to contribute or start.

Hodges, 23, was making a strong impression in training camp before suffering a going down in the Jaguars’ second preseason game. The initial prognosis for Hodges wasn’t too severe with Doug Pederson telling reporters in August that the lineman was “going to miss a little time.”

“He’s still on track,” Pederson said on Oct. 9. “He’s not necessarily ready to put a lot of load-bearing weight on that knee right now, but he’s another one that’s getting close.”

The Jaguars’ depth on the interior offensive line was tested often in 2023 with Walker Little, Ben Bartch, Tyler Shatley, Ezra Cleveland, and Blake Hance all seeing time at left guard. It seems likely that Hodges would’ve been inserted into the lineup at some point late in the year if he’d been able to return.

Addressing the team’s offensive line woes will be a top priority for the Jaguars this offseason. It’d be a significant boon for the team if Hodges returned at full health in 2024 and pushed for a starting role.

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Dawuane Smoot, Antonio Johnson, Cooper Hodges traveling to London

Doug Pederson says a trio of Jaguars players are getting closer to making their 2023 season debuts.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing three players recovering from injury to London, opening the possibility that Dawuane Smoot, Antonio Johnson, and/or Cooper Hodges will make their season debut(s) soon.

During a press conference Wednesday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Smoot (on PUP list), Hodges (on IR), and Johnson will make the trip overseas.

Smoot, 28, re-signed with the Jaguars in July, but is still recovering from an Achilles tear that ended his 2022 season in December. At the time of the injury, Smoot led the team in sacks.

“In Smoot’s case, obviously we want to get him acclimated into practice,” Pederson said. “Once we activate him, we don’t have to make a decision right away. We want to see where he’s at with kind of the rigors of practice.”

Johnson, a fifth-round draft pick earlier this year, is on the active roster but hasn’t practiced since suffering a hamstring injury in August. On Wednesday, the rookie defensive back was back on the field at the Miller Electric Center.

 

“In regards to Antonio Johnson, he’ll actually be able to do some things this week just individual-wise just to kind of get him back into practice a little bit,” Pederson said. “Then we can actually practice him next week going into Buffalo [in Week 5] and see where he’s at. … There is a chance that he could make it for the Buffalo game.”

Hodges, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, suffered a knee injury in preseason that landed him on the injured reserve.

“Cooper, we’re not going to rush yet, there’s no need at this time,” Pederson said. “We’ll see how he handles the two weeks over there [in London]. He can’t — obviously, because he’s on IR — he can’t practice with the team. But he can do a lot of stuff off to the side.”

If the Jaguars designate Smoot and/or Hodges for return, it’ll open a 21-day window where those players can practice without counting against the 53-man active roster.

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Jaguars move rookie OL Cooper Hodges to injured reserve

Cooper Hodges is eligible to come off the Jaguars injured reserve any time after the team’s Week 4 game.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie offensive lineman Cooper Hodges will miss at least four games after getting moved to the injured reserve Thursday.

Hodges, 23, suffered a patella injury in the Jaguars’ second preseason game and has been sidelined during his recovery. If the team put the rookie on the injured reserve prior to Wednesday, it would’ve ended his 2023 season. Instead, the lineman is now eligible to return any time after Jacksonville’s Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Prior to the injury, Hodges was impressing in training camp with offensive coordinator Press Taylor praising the rookie for the physicality and energy he brought to the practice field. After a strong preseason debut against the Dallas Cowboys, Hodges told reporters that it proved to him that “definitely belongs here.”

The decision to put Hodges on the injured reserve opened room on the roster for veteran lineman Blake Hance to return to the Jaguars. After swapping in Hance for Hodges, Jacksonville still has eight offensive linemen on the active roster.

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Jaguars bring back OL Blake Hance two days after release

Two days after Blake Hance was cut by the team, the Jaguars re-signed the veteran offensive lineman Thursday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars brought back offensive lineman Blake Hance on Thursday, signing him to the active roster two days after releasing him Tuesday.

Hance, 27, spent time with six teams, including a brief stint with the Jaguars in 2019 and 2020, before returning to Jacksonville in November 2022. He appeared in nine regular season games with the Jaguars a year ago and appears primed to be a swing tackle for the team in 2023.

“Hance is probably that guy,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said last week when asked who would be the swing tackle. “We got to see where [Ben] Bartch and [Tyler] Shatley pan out, see where Josh [Wells] is at with his health. Right now, if this were Week 1, it would be Blake.”

While Bartch and Shatley have been cleared to participate fully in practices and games, the Jaguars placed Wells on the injured reserve Tuesday.

Ultimately, the decision to release Hance was just a procedural move to keep rookie Cooper Hodges on the roster Tuesday so the seventh-round pick could be placed on the temporary injured reserve Tuesday.

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How Jaguars’ injuries could affect the 53-man roster

The Jaguars’ offensive and defensive line injuries could have an impact on the final 53-man roster.

With the preseason coming to a close, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ injuries, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, could influence the 53-man roster.

The Jaguars will play their final preseason game on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins. Jacksonville’s starters are mostly healthy, but some of the rotational players are less than 100 percent.

The Jaguars have already dropped one player due to injury on the defensive line. They reportedly released 27-year-old Henry Mondeaux on Tuesday from the injured reserve with a settlement.

He was set to handle second-team nose tackle duties behind DaVon Hamilton before he suffered an undisclosed injury — presumably during Jacksonville’s first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Hamilton is also out of action while he deals with a “non-football related medical issue” that’ll keep him out Saturday. Head coach Doug Pederson said Hamilton is “doing extremely well” and could be back in the building as early as next week, but it’s unclear when he’ll return to the field.

While Pederson spoke positively about Hamilton’s recovery, if the tackle is out for an extended period, other players could sneak into the 53-man roster. Seventh-round pick Raymond Vohasek may be in position to play himself into a roster spot with a strong performance Saturday.

The offensive line has also faced issues staying healthy. Another seventh-round rookie, Cooper Hodges, suffered a patella injury, which Pederson said will cause him “to miss a little time.” He said Hodges won’t need surgery, but a spot on the injured reserve could be a real possibility.

Veteran tackle Josh Wells is also set to miss time. Pederson didn’t have a timetable for return for the offensive lineman, but said he’ll miss some time, as well.

Wells’ injury could have an impact on the offensive line rotation. Blake Hance is currently the most likely winner of the swing tackle position, but Wells could be in the conversation, if healthy. Pederson recognized the unfortunate timing of the team’s offensive and defensive line injuries.

“If these injuries were going to happen, you’d love for them to be at the beginning of camp, and now they’re getting healthy,” Pederson said.

Wells and Hodges could be candidates for the physically unable to perform list or injured reserve, which would provide an opening for someone else on the roster.

Pederson also acknowledged the waiver wire as a possible resolution to the team’s injury troubles.

“That all factors into this, so we’ll take a look at it and see if someone is available to help you out whether it’s short-term or long-term,” he said.

After the Jaguars’ final preseason game on Saturday, the roster will need to be cut down to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon.

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Jaguars OG Cooper Hodges will ‘miss a little time’ with patella injury

Cooper Hodges will miss the remainder of training camp and preseason due to the knee injury he suffered Saturday.

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Cooper Hodges suffered a patella injury that’ll keep him out of action for a little while, coach Doug Pederson said.

“He had a patella injury in the game and he’s going to miss a little time,” Pederson said Monday during a Zoom call with reporters. “Not sure how much time, but he’ll miss the rest of training camp and won’t play in this last preseason game.”

Hodges, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, suffered the injury while blocking for a field goal in the first quarter of Jacksonville’s 25-7 win against the Detroit Lions. After the game, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters that the team believed it to be a patella injury and that further testing would reveal the extent of the injury.

Given the possibility of a patellar tendon tear, which likely would’ve ended Hodges’ rookie season before it began, the update from Pederson seems to indicate that the lineman avoided a significant injury.

Prior to the injury, Hodges was impressing coaches in training camp and preseason with his tenacity and physicality. He has also quickly endeared himself to Jaguars fans with cartwheels and high fives prior to camp practices.

Hodges spent his entire collegiate career as a starting right tackle for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, but has transitioned to guard with the Jaguars. He is currently listed on the depth chart as the second-team right guard behind Brandon Scherff.

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Jaguars rookie OL Cooper Hodges carted off in preseason

Cooper Hodges was helped off the field before getting carted to the locker room with a knee injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie offensive lineman Cooper Hodges was carted off the field Saturday during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions.

Hodges, 23, was injured after blocking on a field goal and needed assistance to hobble off the field. After the Jaguars ruled Hodges as questionable to return to the game, Kainani Stevens of Jaguars.com reported that he was carted to the locker room with a brace on his right knee.

The Jaguars drafted Hodges, a Jacksonville-area native, in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft and coaches have been impressed with his play in training camp and preseason. After playing a team-high 68 snaps during the Jaguars’ first preseason game, Hodges appeared set to play a significant amount of the game against the Lions.

A four-year starter at right tackle for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, Hodges has been attempting to make the Jaguars’ 53-man roster as a right guard.

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Cooper Hodges on preseason debut: ‘I feel like I definitely belong’

Cooper Hodges is sure about one thing after Saturday: he’s not out of his depth in the NFL.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie offensive lineman Cooper Hodges wasn’t ready to evaluate his play Saturday night after his preseason debut. While he told reporters after the game that he felt he played pretty well, he needed to see film first before he could be sure of that.

Hodges was confident about one thing, though: he’s not out of his depth in the NFL.

“It’s still football. Still the game I’ve been playing since I was five,” Hodges said. “It’s all ball. The biggest thing is just the detail you have to take in and the process for each play. After today, I feel like I definitely belong here.

“It was still fun and that is the biggest thing. A lot of people tell you when you get here that it is a job. Man, it was still fun. It was still fun running the ball, getting yards, score touchdowns. It is all still fun.”

Hodges is trying to beat the odds and make the 53-man roster as a seventh-round rookie. While it’d be easy to forget about one of the last picks in the Jaguars’ massive 13-player draft class, Hodges has made himself hard to miss in training camp. The offensive lineman has done daily cartwheels for fans and offensive coordinator was complimentary of the physicality Hodges has brought to the practice field.

That was evident on the field Saturday night when Hodges made a few key blocks, including one that sprung running back D’Ernest Johnson free for a 26-yard gain.

It’s still too early to tell if Hodges will make the 53-man roster, but he’s right in his assessment: the Appalachian State alum looks like he belongs.

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Cooper Hodges ‘has brought a physicality’ to Jaguars training camp

Cooper Hodges has been hard to miss in his first Jaguars training camp.

It’s not easy to make an impression as a seventh-round draft pick, but Cooper Hodges is also hard to miss.

The 6’3, 311-pound rookie offensive tackle from nearby Baker County has taken it upon himself to pump up training camp attendees with high fives and even an occasional cartwheel. Hodges has managed to stand out on the field too.

“Cooper has brought a physicality,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said of the rookie. “He brings a physical aspect. That’s been the one thing as these young guys continue to adjust to the speed of the game and the amount of offense we have in, he’s done a good job of just being physical.

“At the end of the day, that’s a huge part of this game and playing offensive line. He certainly has that element. Now, it’s just about continuing to get better every single day and these games are a little different than practice, so we’ll see as we get into this aspect of it, what it looks like for him.”

Hodges picked up plenty of experience at the collegiate level, starting 51 consecutive games and earning All-Sun Belt honors in four straight seasons at Appalachian State. In more than 3,100 offensive snaps played with the Mountaineers, Pro Football Focus credited Hodges with allowing just three sacks.

In Jacksonville, Hodges has some tough competition for a roster spot with Cam Robinson, Walker Little, and Anton Harrison all at the top of the depth chart.

So far, though, Hodges is doing all the things to make a good first impression.

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Jaguars 2023 roster review: OL Cooper Hodges

Jaguars seventh-round pick Cooper Hodges is hoping to make the roster of his childhood “dream team.”

The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is underway. Join us for a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.

Before Cooper Hodges was a four-time All-Sun Belt selection at Appalachian State, the offensive tackle was a Jacksonville Jaguars fan who lived just 30 minutes away from the team’s TIAA Bank Field.

Now he’s hoping to earn a spot on the roster of his “dream team” after he was a seventh round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Hodges is one of only three players, along with Coy Cronk and Cam Robinson, who is listed as an offensive tackle by the Jaguars. Every other lineman on the team’s roster is simply listed as an offensive lineman.

But Hodges may need to show off his versatility in camp given the team’s logjam at the top of the tackle depth chart.

Contract (2023): $750,000 base salary, $26,373 prorated signing bonus, $776,373 cap hit.

Acquired: The Jaguars drafted Hodges with the No. 226 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft.

PFF grades:

  • 87.0 (2022 – APPST)
  • 80.4 (2021 – APPST)
  • 74.9 (2020 – APPST)
  • 79.8 (2019 – APPST)

Highlight:

Quote: “I’ve been watching the Jags for a long time. Just a lifelong fan. They’re the reason I got into professional football, just knowing there was a team 30 minutes away, going to games. To play 30 minutes away. For these home games, you’re gonna have family and friends there all the time, it’s just honestly a blessing and a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t be more excited for it.” – Hodges

Calvin Ridley (No. 0) Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 1) Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2) C.J. Beathard (No. 3) Tank Bigsby (No. 4) Andre Cisco (No. 5)
Chris Claybrooks (No. 6) Zay Jones (No. 7) Logan Cooke (No. 9) Parker Washington (No. 11) James McCourt (No. 12) Christian Kirk (No. 13)
Kendric Pryor (No. 14) Tim Jones (No. 15) Trevor Lawrence (No. 16) Evan Engram (No. 17) Nathan Rourke (No. 18) Sammis Reyes (No. 19)
Daniel Thomas (No. 20) Latavious Brini (No. 21) JaMycal Hasty (No. 22) Foyesade Oluokun (No. 23) Snoop Conner (No. 24) D’Ernest Johnson (No. 25)
Antonio Johnson (No. 26) Divaad Wilson (No. 27) Tevaughn Campbell (No. 29) Montaric Brown (No. 30) Darious Williams (No. 31) Tyson Campbell (No. 32)
Devin Lloyd (No. 33) Gregory Junior (No. 34) Ayo Oyelola (No. 35) Christian Braswell (No. 36) Tre Herndon (No. 37) Qadree Ollison (No. 38)
Jamal Agnew (No. 39) Erick Hallett (No. 40) Josh Allen (No. 41) Andrew Wingard (No. 42) Kaleb Hayes (No. 43) Derek Parish (No. 43)
Travon Walker (No. 44) K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 45) Ross Matiscik (No. 46) De’Shaan Dixon (No. 47) Chad Muma (No. 48) Shaquille Quarterman (No. 50)
Ventrell Miller (No. 51) DaVon Hamilton (No. 52) Willie Taylor III (No. 53) DJ Coleman (No. 54) Dequan Jackson (No. 55) Yasir Abdullah (No. 56)
Caleb Johnson (No. 57) Raymond Vohasek (No. 59) Darryl Williams (No. 60) Samuel Jackson (No. 62) Coy Cronk (No. 64) Chandler Brewer (No. 67)
Brandon Scherff (No. 68) Tyler Shatley (No. 69) Cole Van Lanen (No. 70) Walker Little (No. 72) Blake Hance (No. 73) Cam Robinson (No. 74)
Cooper Hodges (No. 75) Anton Harrison (No. 76) Josh Wells (No. 77) Ben Bartch (No. 78) Luke Fortner (No. 79) Kevin Austin Jr. (No. 80)
Seth Williams (No. 81) Elijah Cooks (No. 84) Brenton Strange (No. 85) Gerrit Prince (No. 86) Jaray Jenkins (No. 87) Oliver Martin (No. 88)
Luke Farrell (No. 89) Henry Mondeaux (No. 90) Dawuane Smoot (No. 91) Jordan Smith (No. 92) Tyler Lacy (No. 93) Folorunso Fatukasi (No. 94)
Roy Robertson-Harris (No. 95) Adam Gotsis (No. 96) Michael Dogbe (No. 98) Jeremiah Ledbetter (No. 99) Brandon McManus Jacob Harris
Josh Pederson

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