Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon hasn’t seen the gridiron in almost 2 years, and it looks like team officials have resigned to the fact that he probably never will either.
General manager David Caldwell said Tuesday the Jaguars have had no contact with Blackmon and believe that his 21-month absence from the game makes it unlikely the former first-round pick will play in the NFL again.
“I have not heard anything and I guess I harbor a little bit of hope, but realistically I think when you’re away from the game for two and a half years, what you were once is not what you probably will be,” Caldwell said. “Your skills do erode, and especially if you’re not staying in tip-top shape and you’re not in football shape.
“I don’t know to expect, but I would say common sense would probably be if you haven’t played football in two and a half years, apparently that’s not a priority for you.”
Blackmon was drafted with the 5th pick in the 2012 draft and hasn’t seen any NFL action since the 8th week of the 2013 season. He was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy for the 3rd time, and even though Blackmon completed a drug rehab program in 2014, the team has little hope for his return.
Blackmon hasn’t been cut, but the process to get reinstated to the NFL is long and arduous, including a two-month vetting process. He remains on the Jaguars’ reserve/suspended list.
[h/t ESPN]