JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Nearly two years after Justin Blackmon’s last NFL practice, the Jacksonville Jaguars have all but given up on the suspended receiver.
General manager Dave Caldwell said Tuesday he’s pretty much lost hope Blackmon will return. Caldwell hasn’t had any contact with Blackmon in some time and believes the former Oklahoma State star’s skills would be diminished if he was reinstated by the league.
The NFL suspended Blackmon indefinitely in November 2013 after repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
“Realistically, I think when you’re away from the game (this long), what you were once is not what you probably will be,” Caldwell said from his office Tuesday. “Your skills do erode, especially if you’re not staying in tip-top shape and you’re not in football shape.”
In December, the Jaguars felt pretty good about Blackmon potentially returning. He had been getting professional help at a treatment facility, and Caldwell said he was “hearing good things.”