Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 state of the roster: Working backs

For the second installment of the state of the roster overview, we flip our consideration to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ operating backs.

After analyzing the least controversial place group on the crew, the quarterbacks, we now take a dive into the steady of operating backs this Jags crew possesses behind these aforementioned sign callers. Two returners would be the featured pairing, with two rookies proper behind them seeking to improve the offense and particular groups in a variety of methods.

A lot akin to the quarterback grouping, this place group isn’t more likely to change, particularly after the departure of Keilan Robinson after only one season. Even with the emergence of Tank Bigsby in Yr 2, although, assumedly the Jags will begin the season with Travis Etienne Jr. because the crew’s characteristic again.

Travis Etienne Jr.

Contract: 4th yr of a 4-year, $12,898,105 contract. Submit June 1 designations: Lifeless Cap of $6,143,000 if launched. Owed $0 is traded. twenty fifth highest paid operating again.

Age: 26 (27 in January).

Video games Performed: 49 video games over 4 seasons (Missed whole rookie yr).

Stats: 2,691 profession speeding yards, 18 speeding TDs. 1,046 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Notes:

After a down yr final season, Etienne enters 2025-26 in an ungainly spot. He isn’t owed any cash after this season, and it will likely be as much as Etienne to change that. Etienne’s in-between standing might doubtlessly imply extra carries for Bigsby, who emerged as a stable again in his second yr after a disastrous rookie season. However with no draft day trades of Etienne, it seems to be just like the Jags will let him journey out his fifth yr in a little bit of a prove-it situation.

Head coach Liam Coen has stated that Etienne has “accomplished an ideal job” to this point in apply and has had Etienne operating with the primary crew. It’s onerous to inform how a lot of final season was attributable to dangerous damage luck with the previous first-round decide, dangerous scheme, and an total dangerous crew.

Possibly Etienne nonetheless has loads of juice left within the tank, returning to the shape he had when he rushed for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Or possibly Etienne has hit his newer technology operating again ceiling, the place RBs simply aren’t wanted to final so long as they used to. Etienne must play properly this upcoming yr to proceed as a Jag, and even as an RB1 for one more crew. He clearly has the expertise. Now’s the time to make it depend.

Tank Bigsby

Contract: third yr of 4 4-year, $5,392,915 rookie contract.

Age: 23 (24 in August).

Video games Performed: 33 over 2 seasons.

Stats: 766 speeding yards in Yr 2, 7 speeding touchdowns. 10 profession kick returns.

Notes:

The man on the heels of Etienne is the previous third-round decide, Bigsby. His rookie yr was dangerous, however his sophomore yr confirmed why many assume he could be a higher-upside again on this league. Bigsby had two 100-yard video games final yr and scored twice in each. Coincidentally, the Jags received each of these video games.

He’s not the receiving menace that Etienne is, however his bruising run type may afford him an increasing number of touches as subsequent season goes on. Bigsby was probably the greatest operating backs final yr after contact and in gaining yards over anticipated. These are the sorts of stats that hold you within the league for an extended, very long time.

If Bigsby can add a receiving aspect to his recreation, he can have the makings to be a bona fide stud in Jacksonville. With the 2 backs drafted this yr, he now not must have any particular groups duties of any type. The ceiling is excessive on Bigsby and Etienne is probably going feeling that greater than anybody on the market. Possibly that’s good for all events concerned.

Bhayshul Tuten

Contract: 1st yr of a 4-year, $5,276,520 rookie contract.

Age: 23 (24 in February)

Video games Performed: 46 profession faculty video games with NC A&T, Virginia Tech.

Stats: 2023 Sporting Information & School Soccer Community All-American kick returner, Phil Steele Fourth Workforce All-American kick returner, 2023 All-ACC Second Workforce all-purpose again, 2023 All-ACC Third Workforce operating again. 2024 All-ACC Second Workforce operating again. 3,600 profession speeding yards.

Notes:

Tuten was taken within the fourth spherical this previous season after he averaged an eye-popping 6.3 yards per carry final season at Virginia Tech. Tuten confirmed he legitimately is perhaps one of many bounciest backs within the draft. In idea, Tuten might be the Bucky Irving equal in Jacksonville, getting used within the movement/display recreation properly earlier than Bigsby and more likely to relieve Etienne.

The previous Hokie was extraordinarily harmful within the exterior zone, which is precisely the place Irving made numerous his impression with Coen in Tampa Bay. On the mix, Tuten ran a 4.32 40-yard sprint so he clearly has the breakaway pace to torch defenders on the nook. He’s an thrilling prospect who pundits thought might have been drafted far sooner than the place he went. He may even return kicks if needed, most definitely alongside…

LeQuint Allen

Contract: 1st yr of a 4-year, $4,318,756 rookie contract.

Age: 20 (21 in August)

Video games Performed: 39 throughout 3 seasons at Syracuse

Stats: Two-time All-ACC operating again, 32 complete scores is fifth in Syracuse historical past. 2,359 profession speeding yards with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Notes:

The second operating again taken of the James Gladstone regime was Allen out of Syracuse. He offers numerous the identical worth as Tuten does on each offense and on particular groups. Allen offers the Jags nearly a humiliation of riches within the operating again room, as he can catch, run and return each time wanted.

Allen led all faculty operating backs final yr in catches with 64, once more offering a much-needed receiving again choice over somebody like Bigsby. Final yr, Coen was among the many high within the league for concentrating on operating backs within the passing recreation. It’s onerous to think about that this offense received’t characteristic all 4 of those guys at varied totally different factors within the recreation. Extra operating backs equal extra relaxation for every man. And it additionally creates a pressure on defenses. For only a seventh-round decide, the Jags bought a man who can actually change a soccer recreation.

What are your ideas on the RB place getting into 2025? Tell us within the feedback beneath!