Even though Travis Etienne was a stud in 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars let him walk in free agency. The decision raised eyebrows across NFL circles, but they believe Bhayshul Tuten is ready to fill the void at running back. At first sight, though, the confidence appears to be misguided.
Tuten averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2025, and the fumble issues he had at Virginia Tech seemingly followed him to the NFL. However, a closer look shows that the second-year running back is poised to have a breakout season.
With Etienne out of the picture, Tuten will have more chances to showcase his game-breaking speed. He's already flashed big-play capability when he racked up 51 yards on four carries in the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. On top of that, the Paulsboro, New Jersey native has made a strong impression in the offseason program. This has led an NFL analyst to think he'll give the screen game a massive boost next season.
Jaguars sophomore Bhayshul Tuten is flying under the radar
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports made an appearance on 1010 XL and argued that the Jaguars' screen game will be much better than it was a year ago, pointing out that Bhayshul Tuten can break off big runs.
"I think we're people are kind of missing the boat on Tuten. I think Tuten is going to be a big-time runner between the tackles. I think he's got home run speed," Prisco said when asked about the Jacksonville screen game (7:08 mark). "I mean, what was it, three for 41 in the Bills game? I mean, that's the kind of things he can do, and you can get him involved in the passing game, so I think the screen game will be better than it was a year ago."
One of the reasons Tuten averaged less than four yards per rush was that he got the ball in short-yardage situations way more than Etienne did. Now that he's the lead back, he'll get more opportunities, which will, in turn, improve his statline.
It's also worth noting that Liam Coen stated that the Jags have yet to unlock Tuten's full skill set, so he could also have a role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
The Jaguars have a promising backfield beyond Bhayshul Tuten
Throughout the offseason, the Jaguars have been urged to either sign or trade for a veteran running back to bolster their backfield. This makes sense when you take into account that they lack experience at the position. However, Jacksonville is certain that Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez will flourish. On top of that, the depth beyond those two appears to be in good shape.
LeQuint Allen Jr. thrived as a rookie should get an uptick in playing time after Travis Etienne's departure. On the other hand, undrafted rookie J'Mari Taylor has stood out in the offseason program and may be trending toward making the 53-man roster over veterans DeeJay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars are set at running back, and it may just be a matter of time before Bhayshul Tuten no longer flies under the radar.
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