Jaguars taking cautionary approach with RB Travis Etienne following foot injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat Baltimore Ravens but they had to do it without running back Travis Etienne. The former Clemson Tiger had to exit the game with a foot injury and didn’t come back. Fortunately, head coach Doug Pederson says Etienne will be fine and the only reason he didn’t return was that the team took a cautionary approach.

Pederson met with the local media and Monday and gave an update on Etienne’s injury, which was on the same foot he hurt last year.

He’s gonna be okay”, Pederson said. “He just got rolled up on his surgically repaired foot and just caution and precaution and just want to make sure he was and will be 100 percent moving forward, so it was more precautionary in that game than anything else”.

Pederson goes on to say the coaching staff discussed putting Etienne back in the game but didn’t think it was the best thing for him and his health. The head coach then added that the Jags will try to bring him along slowly.

“We got to get him some touches this week in practice, we gotta get him caught up. We spend these next couple of days meeting with him and getting him going, so it’s possible that obviously working him in practice could be a player that we might need for the game”, Pederson said.

Towards the end of his exchange with the media, Pederson said that “barring anything crazy this week, Etienne will be” fine and ready to go”.

Having Travis Etienne back would be huge for the Jaguars in Week 13

If Travis Etienne can’t go against the Detroit Lions in Week 13, JaMycal Hasty could get the starting nod. Also, Darrell Henderson, who was claimed off waivers last week, and rookie Snoop Conner could also see playing time.

Hasty averaged just 2.33 yards per carry against the Ravens but he also hauled in five receptions for 67 yards with one touchdown. But as serviceable as he is, there’s a drop-off from Etienne to Hasty.

Etienne has toted the rock 133 times for 728 yards with four touchdowns this season. He’s one of the Jaguars’ best offensive players and although they could be without him for a couple of games, they can’t afford to miss him for an extended period of time. After all, opposing coaches game plan for him, and without him in the lineup, defenses can focus on stopping Trevor Lawrence.

Etienne is one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL. While the Jaguars managed to beat Baltimore with him, there’s no doubt their offense runs better when he is in the lineup, so having him against the Detroit Lions would give their offense a big boost.