The Jacksonville Jaguars made a telling move today when they released running back Ja’Quinden Jackson ahead of their final roster cuts. While Jackson flashed versatility during camp, so did many other rookies, such as Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr.
Still, the decision wasn’t so much about Jackson as it was about the direction of the offense. With this move, the Jaguars sent a clear message about how they plan to structure their backfield in 2025.
At the center of that plan is likely to be Travis Etienne. Etienne has had to listen to trade talks all offseason. And while some of those talks may even have come from me, it looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars are putting their words into action as new roster moves look to cement the current depth chart at the running back position.
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Jaguars waive undrafted free agent Ja'Quinden Jackson
New head coach Liam Coen recently made a few telling but not-so-clear remarks regarding the Jaguars' running back room. I've mentioned them before, but they're worth repeating: "It's going to be darn near impossible to have four with a jersey on game day. That's the challenge that we have to work through over the next few weeks," he said (4:51 mark).
Let's be honest: it was never likely that Jackson was going to make the final 53, so it's not as if his release made any extra room for Etienne. Still, the undrafted free agent's presence meant a level of depth in the backfield. Now, with only four running backs left on the roster, it seems likely that Etienne's home is safe with the Jaguars.
I was wrong when I predicted Jackson would make the practice squad—though, to be fair, it is still possible. However, with his release, it seems more likely that Allen is destined for that role, leaving Etienne, third-year veteran Tank Bigsby, and Tuten as the three gameday backs. While there's still time for James "I've got rocks" Gladstone to make some moves, it seems Etienne has at least one more season as a Jaguar.
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Final thoughts
The release of Ja’Quinden Jackson leaves little doubt about where Jacksonville’s confidence lies. With camp and preseason battles finally settling, the Jaguars have made their backfield hierarchy clear, and Etienne’s role as one of the centerpieces looks to remain secure.