Justin Blackmon unlikely to ever play again, says Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell

Suspended wide receiver Justin Blackmon is almost entirely not coming back to the NFL, and Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said as much.

#Jaguars blog -- Caldwell on Blackmon: "If you don't play football for 2 1/2 years ... skills do erode." http://t.co/NHWC8XoJf5

— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) August 4, 2015

According to Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, Caldwell's most recent comments come on Tuesday afternoon when he was asked about the receiver's status.

"I guess I harbor hope, but realistically, when you're away from the game for two-and-a-half years, what you were once is not what you will probably be," Caldwell said. "Your skills do erode, especially when you're not in shape and not in top football shape."

The latest we heard of Blackmon was that he was reportedly denied reinstatement to the NFL, but that report was denied later by the source Mark Long. Most of us believe Blackmon has never actually applied for reinstatement, communicating something about his desire to even come back to the NFL.

The Jaguars have kept Blackmon on the team since his suspension in November 2013. In a little over a season with the Jaguars, Blackmon has 93 receptions for 1,280 yards and six touchdowns.