![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) can’t make a catch during the 10th organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01k0cse5294d7q9yw5pk.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) can’t make a catch during the 10th organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter training camp needing to answer several questions. The biggest one is probably how Trevor Lawrence's recovery from shoulder surgery is going. There will be other storylines surrounding the Jags to keep an eye on, but one that's not getting nearly as much attention is what their running back depth chart will look like.
The Jaguars had a pair of talented running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, but that didn't deter them from drafting Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen. They now have a well-rounded group, but it's currently hard to predict what they plan to do with the four of them.
Bigsgy, a third-round selection in 2023, was a non-factor as a rookie but made a notable leap in Year 2. He looked even better than Etienne at times and should have a realistic shot at being the top back in the Jacksonville backfield.
Tuten, for his part, has top-notch speed and is a threat to break off any time he gets the football. That said, he must fix his fumbling issues if he wants to earn a featured role for the Jags. On the other hand, Allen won't vie for a starting role, but his skills as a blocker and a pass-catcher out of the backfield could help him carve a niche.
The biggest wild card of the bunch may be Etienne. A first-round pick in 2021, the former Clemson Tiger missed his rookie campaign after suffering a Lisfranc injury but had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, he was held back by a shoulder injury and inadequate protection last year, and is coming off what's arguably the worst season of his NFL career.
That said, Etienne has proven that he can be a game-changer at running back. If healthy, he should have no trouble reclaiming his spot as the top option in the Jags' backfield.
Related: Pre-training camp AFC South quarterback rankings: Where does Trevor Lawrence sit?
What will the Jaguars do with Travis Etienne? Can Bhayshul Tuten start in 2025?
As talented as Travis Etienne is, he's been the subject of trade chatter since the end of the 2024 season due to the presence of Tank Bigsby and the fact that he's entering a contract year. Drafting Bhayshul Tuten only increased speculation, even though head coach Liam Coen has since stated that the team isn't shopping Etienne.
Then again, the Jags could change their mind if Bigsby picks up where he left off last year or Tuten makes a strong impression in training camp. And that's the thing, the team's brass is better off holding onto Etienne for the moment, as he gives them insurance in case they suffer injuries at the position.
On the other hand, Jacksonville must figure out what to do with Etienne. The sooner they do it, the faster they'll be able to sort out the depth chart and distribute reps in training camp. The rookies will need as many as they can get, and they won't get many if Etienne is still around.
Coversely, it wouldn't make sense to feed Tuten or LeQuint Allen if the Jags plan to keep Etienne.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars must make a decision on Travis Etienne before the start of the season. The sooner they do it, the better.