4 players the Jaguars cannot afford to lose to injury in 2022

Trevor Lawrence is without a doubt the most important player on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster in 2022. But he is by no means the only one that will play a big role in their success or lack thereof.

In fact, there are a handful of key players the Jags cannot afford to lose in 2022 if they want to be competitive and keep up with their AFC South foes. Here are the most important four.

No. 4 player the Jaguars can’t afford to lose to injury: Travis Etienne

Running back Travis Etienne was expected to become a dual-threat on the Jaguars’ offense last season but his rookie campaign was over before it started, suffering a Lisfranc injury during the preseason.

The former Clemson Tiger is fully healthy ahead of training camp and is poised to be the top back on the Jags’ depth chart while James Robinson recovers from the torn Achilles he sustained towards the end of the 2021 season.

If Etienne lives up to expectation, the Jaguars’ rushing attack will be in good shape but if he once again gets hurt in 2022, there will probably be a significant dropoff in production. Ryquell Armstead and Snoop Conner would carry the load in case of an injury but both running backs are better suited for change-of-pace roles right now.

Robinson is unlikely to return for training camp and will probably make his 2022 debut at some point of the regular season. It wouldn’t make sense for the team’s brass to press him into action if he isn’t ready and run the risk of potentially getting injured once again. That’s why it’s crucial for Etienne to stay healthy.