Former Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Charles Rogers Dies

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers died following a battle with cancer and liver disease. He was 38 years old. According to TMZ, he was awaiting a liver transplant when he passed away.

The Lions took Rogers with the second pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Despite setting the Michigan State record for most touchdowns in a career with 27 in just two seasons, Rogers never managed to find success in the NFL. He would only play in 15 games with the Lions and had his career derailed due to injuries and suspensions for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Rogers' former high school coach, Don Durrett, had fond memories of the gifted athlete.

“I’ll tell you, he was — and I’m including Flint, too, since I coached at Flint Northern all those years — he’s the best athlete I ever seen. I mean, honestly,” Durrett told the Detroit Free Press. “We’re talking about basketball, football and track together. He could have had a scholarship in all three sports. That’s how good. … I haven’t seen nobody that fast that could do it all. He was just a blessed athlete that could do it all.”

Many of Rogers' former teammates offered their condolences on social media. 

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