The Jacksonville Jaguars had OTA practices begin on Tuesday and will have more practices run through the end of May and the first few weeks of June. Mandatory minicamp will also take place between June 9-11, and this is a great chance for running back Bhayshul Tuten to take control.
Head coach Liam Coen spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said that no one has grabbed that starting job at running back yet.
"It’s a group that has a lot of opportunities to them. There’s a wide-open room. It’s truly wide open.”
And while the Jaguars signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. to join LeQuint Allen Jr. and Tuten as the top three backs in the room, Tuten has the runway to take over as the RB1 for this team.
Bhayshul Tuten has path to become Jags starting RB
Travis Etienne Jr. was Jacksonville's lead tailback over the last few years, but since he left in free agency to sign with the New Orleans Saints, the Jags will be looking elsewhere for that production. Considering they only signed Rodriguez Jr. and didn't draft someone else, they like what Tuten can bring to the table.
One of the biggest advantages that Tuten has is the speed he brings to the gridiron. At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a blazing 4.32 40-yard dash. He also recorded a 40.5-inch vertical jump, showing his pure athleticism.
Last season, Tuten was used in a reserve role, playing in 21 percent of the offensive snaps. Yet, he still made plays in those outings. He recorded 307 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. Tuten also reeled in 10 passes for 79 yards and another two touchdowns. His options behind Etienne were limited, but Tuten still found his way into the endzone seven times, which shouldn't go under the radar.
In James Gladstone's and Coen's first draft together, they selected Tuten, with the idea that Etienne Jr. could leave in free agency. Coen expressed that the staff can do a better job leaning into Tuten's strengths. That's another indication that they like what he can bring, and it's up to the Virginia Tech product to step it up.
Although pads won't come on until training camp, Tuten needs to take advantage of all his opportunities in practice. Coen has made it clear that competition is wide open, and that means the best player will be the RB1.
Of course, Rodriguez Jr. and Allen will also bring their best foot forward, but the pathway is there for Tuten to be the starter in Week 1. Now it's all up to him to make sure he seizes the opportunity. He has to make sure he stands out and makes the decision easy for Coen and company.
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