The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't get much production out of their 2025 draft class. Some of that was due to the fact that they already had grizzled veterans in place, so they didn't have to rush the rookies into action. On the other hand, injuries prevented several first-year players from making an impact last season. But regardless of the reason, several sophomores are ready to step up. Running back Bhayshul Tuten is one of them.
Travis Etienne was RB1 last year but bolted to the New Orleans Saints in free agency. With him out of the picture, Tuten is ready to take on a bigger role. One NFL analyst believes he'll thrive.
Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten is poised for a bigger role in 2026
As a rookie, Bhayshul Tuten toted the rock 83 times for 307 yards with five touchdowns. Although he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry, he showed big-play capability in the playoffs, amassing 51 yards on four carries.
Fast forward to 2026, and Moe Moton of Bleacher Report drew up a list of players poised for a bigger role and included Bhayshul Tunen, arguing that the second-year running back has the skill set to become a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield in Liam Coen's scheme.
"Tuten's versatile skill set could shine in the Jaguars' new-look backfield," Moton wrote. "In two collegiate years at Virginia Tech, he caught 50 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, while on the field for just 21 percent of the offensive snaps, the 2025 fourth-rounder recorded 10 catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns."
Last year, Travis Etienne reeled in 36 targets for 292 yards with six touchdowns in 52 targets. Someone will need to step into his place, and Tuten could easily fill the void and replace his production, even with Chris Rodriguez in the mix. This is why Moton thinks the former Virginia Tech Hokie will rack up more than 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
"As a three-down tailback, Tuten could easily rack up over 1,000 scrimmage yards. Fellow 2025 draft classmate will be involved in the rotation, but Tuten finished with 93 touches last season, and that number should be more than double in 2026," Moton wrote.
Coming out of college, the biggest concern surrounding Tuten was his inability to hold onto the football, losing a combined nine fumbles in 2023 and 2024. With the Jags, he had two last season, but head coach Liam Coen says it's no longer a reason for concern, pointing out that the coaching staff has put an emphasis on ball security.
On top of that, Coen believes Tuten is ready for a bigger role, stating that he's ready for more opportunities. When you add it all up, all signs point to him having a breakout season.
The Jaguars are ready to unleash Bhayshul Tuten
Nobody will deny that Travis Etienne has been a mainstay of the Jacksonville offense. Even when he dealt with the shoulder injury in 2024, he was still a dependable running back. However, the new regime wasn't sold on him when it took over last year. This is why the Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr.
Surprisingly, Etienne managed to hold Tuten off and stay at the top of the depth chart. But now that he's gone, it's Tuten's job to lose, and the Jaguars will do anything they can to ensure he's in a position to succeed. On the other hand, the Paulsboro, New Jersey native will also need to do his part and prove that the team's trust isn't misplaced.
But based on what Bhayshul Tuten did against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, it's easy to see why the Jaguars would want to see more of him next season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google