Travis Etienne has been absent from the Jaguars’ lineup for the previous two weeks, however Sunday might mark his return. At any time when the fourth-year working again is subsequent on the sector, he’s slated to reclaim his beginning spot.
Etienne’s hamstring harm opened the door for Tank Bigsby to tackle an elevated workload throughout Jacksonville’s London win over New England. The 2023 third-rounder rushed for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns throughout that contest, and he adopted it up by producing 86 scrimmage yards final week. Regardless of that success, head coach Doug Pederson is ready to maintain Etienne atop the depth chart.
“I’m a believer the place harm doesn’t exchange your place,” Pederson stated (by way of ESPN’s Michael DiRocco). “I believe you must have a good competitors for us. We’re blessed to have two actually good working backs proper now. When Etienne comes again, he’s simply as explosive, simply pretty much as good, simply as highly effective, and it’s nonetheless his job.”
Pederson has beforehand spoken a few want to cut back Etienne’s workload after he totaled 580 touches throughout the 2022 and ’23 seasons. Bigsby dealing with a notable position when each backs are within the fold would assist obtain that purpose. Certainly, the eighth-year coach stated Bigsby’s contrasting skillset ought to enable him to stay a daily determine on offense transferring ahead. With wideout Christian Kirk sidelined for the remainder of the season, it will come as no shock if Jacksonville adopted extra of a run-heavy strategy on offense.
Etienne – who has been a restricted participant in apply daily this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest – had his fifth-year choice picked up this offseason. Consequently, the Clemson product is on the books for a $6.14M wage subsequent yr; that lessens the probabilities of a commerce being labored out forward of this yr’s deadline. The two-6 Jaguars dealt away longtime left deal with Cam Robinson earlier this week, although, so additional strikes from a vendor’s standpoint might be on the way in which.
Supplied Etienne stays in place for the remainder of the yr, his efficiency within the RB1 position with be value watching intently. The 25-year-old missed his total rookie marketing campaign however delivered a powerful exhibiting in 2022 with a 5.1 yards per carry common. That determine fell to three.8 final yr, and a bounce-back in effectivity to shut out the present marketing campaign could be welcomed by staff and participant. Etienne ought to have ample alternative to return to his earlier kind upon return.
