Sometimes, a player missing Organized Team Activities is a sign that he could be looking for a new deal or is about to be placed on the trading block. That's why it was noteworthy that running back Travis Etienne wasn't with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Day 4 of OTAs. However, head coach Liam Coen put an end to speculation with a reasonable explanation for the running back's absence.
Coen told the media that Etienne didn't participate on Day 4 because he had a flight situation, and it wasn't truly an issue.
It's also important to point out that OTAs are voluntary, so players could skip them, and it's not an issue. Having said that, Etienne has been the subject of trade chatter since the end of the 2024 season.
A first-round pick in 2021, the former Clemson Tiger tallied over 3,900 yards from scrimmage in 2022 and 2023 but dealt with a shoulder injury that hampered his performance last year. To make matters worse, fellow running back Tank Bigsby outplayed him and was generally more productive. Then, the Jaguars fanned the flames of speculation when they drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen this past April.
Not long after the draft, a report emerged that the Jags weren't high on either Etienne or Bigsby, which did nothing to dispel the trade rumors. And there's a strong chance the trio of them will need to compete for the RB1 job in the summer.
If the Jaguars do decide to place Etienne on the trade block, he would most certainly garner interest from teams in need of help at running back. Even after the Denver Broncos drafted RJ Harvey, they could still use insurance at the position. Similarly, the Minnesota Vikings could get Aaron Jones an experienced backfield partner.
Why it makes sense for the Jaguars to keep Travis Etienne around
Depending on how desperate teams are, the Jacksonville Jaguars could get a fourth or fifth-round pick in exchange for Travis Etienne. That said, it would also make sense for them to hold onto him, at least for a few more months.
Leaving aside that Etienne has proven to be a capable running back, rookie Bhayshul Tuten has had issues holding onto the football. He lost nine fumbles at Virginia Tech and also lost the football on Day 1 of OTAs. And as long as he doesn't fix that, he won't have a realistic shot at competing for the starting job.
Another benefit from keeping Etienne around is that he provides insurance in case the injury bug strikes. On the other hand, he could take away reps that could otherwise go to Tuten and fellow rookie LeQuint Allen, and if he truly isn't part of the team's long-term plans, it doesn't make much sense to keep him.
For the time being, Travis Etienne remains with the Jaguars, but at this point, it looks like he's a coin flip to stay in Jacksonville next season.