3 rookies who have shined for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, 2 who haven't
• Some of them had an impact this season, others not so much
• Here are their 3 biggest hits, and 2 early misses so far
1. Tank Bigsby has been a non-factor for the Jaguars in 2023
The Jaguars have found little success getting the running game going this season despite multiple efforts. Most of the struggles come from the offensive line's inability to open lanes up front, and that's mostly due to the current personnel, so there's a chance things won't get much better until next year.
But leaving aside the offensive line woes, Tank Bigsby has been underwhelming in 2023. A third-round pick in this year's draft, the former Auburn Tiger was expected to give the Jaguars a dynamic backfield tandem alongside Travis Etienne. However, he's had a hard time making the leap to the NFL.
A bruiser in college, Bigsby has struggled with turnovers for the Jaguars. In the opener, he couldn't come down with a catch that ended up becoming an interception. Later in the same game, he picked up a live ball but it was quickly taken off his hands by defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who took it to the end zone for a touchdown.
But despite contributing to two turnovers, the coaching staff kept giving Bigsby chances in later games. Their patience wore off when he fumbled against the Steelers. While he's still getting a bit of playing time, D'Ernest Johnson, a free-agent pickup, has supplanted him as RB2 on the depth chart.
Make no mistake, Johnson had always flashed during his stint with the Cleveland Browns. However, the Jaguars expected Bigsby to be the No. 2 running back, and he isn't because he's actively hurt the team. It's possible that he's struggling with the mental aspect of the game but until he figures things out, the decision to draft him will be under scrutiny.
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