Illinois’ high-energy wing still has serious bounce—when healthy
In the 2025-26 season, Rodgers is sidelined indefinitely after a serious left-knee injury, so the big story is health, not box-score volume[1][2][3]. When he was last fully active in the 2023-24 season, he started all 38 games for Illinois and posted 6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 53% shooting, which hints at his value as a long, physical, do-everything connector rather than a pure scorer[4]. The appeal is easy to spot: toughness, rebounding, versatility, and a reputation as a beloved, intense teammate—but his current rehab makes him more of a future upside swing than an immediate plug-and-play fit[1][2][3].
