Indianapolis Colts sign former Clemson WR Amari Rodgers
Former Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers is getting another shot in the NFL. Rodgers has signed with the Indianapolis Colts, the franchise announced on Wednesday.
To make room for Rodgers, the Colts cut Johnny King. King signed with the Colts in May out of Southeast Missouri State.
Rodgers joins the Colts after playing in 32 games, with two starts, so far in his NFL career. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Rodgers spent the 2021 season with the Packers and part of the 2022 season in Green Bay, before being cut.
The Knoxville native then signed with the Houston Texans for the end of the 2022 season and caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown over six games.
Amari Rodgers spent four seasons at Clemson, helping the Tigers win the national championship in 2018. He was solid during his first three seasons at Clemson, before putting together a breakout year as a senior in 2020.
During his final season at Clemson, Rodgers earned first-team All-ACC honors and was a permanent team captain after catching 77 passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. He started all 12 games for the Tigers that year.
Rodgers posted only the 12th 1,000-yard receiving season in school history, and his 85 receiving yards per game ranked seventh in school history. His NFL career hasn’t gone as planned thus far, but he will look to turn things around in Indianapolis.
Maurice Jones-Drew comments on Jonathan Taylor’s situation with Indianapolis Colts
While the Colts have signed Amari Rodgers, the situation with Jonathan Taylor still isn’t resolved. Jones has an ally in former NFL back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Amid contract disputes, Taylor has requested a trade out of Indianapolis. So far, the Colts have not obliged and could potentially place the running back on the non-football injury list, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59 and CBS4 Sports.
On NFL Network’s NFL Total Access, Jones-Drew talked about Taylor’s situation. It’s a predicament he knows all too well.
“Listen, I’ve been there before. Held out in 2012, I demanded a trade … and when people sent their requests or their trade picks and players, the Jags said no. So, I understand where Jonathan Taylor is sitting,” Jones-Drew said.
“This is the thing, you gotta go out there and you gotta produce in this situation. You want a contract, I get it, the game is not favorable to running backs right now and their value. But you’re the one who’s going to change everything. You’re the key. … If you go out there and have a great year, then you can demand what you want.”