5 Jaguars entering make-or-break years in Jacksonville this season

Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby is entering a make-or-break season in 2024

The Jaguars were counting on running back Tank Bigsby to take some of the workload off Travis Etienne's shoulders. However, the plan didn't come into fruition. The forrmer Auburn Tiger was underwhelming. Besides registering a paltry 2.6 yards per catch, he made mistakes that hurt the offense.

By the end of the 2023 season, Bigsby had been phased out in favor of D'Ernest Johnson. But as disappointing as he was in his rookie campaign, the coaching staff hasn't given up on the sophomore running back. In fact, they want him to have a bigger role.

Bigsby certainly has the talent to succeed in the NFL. The question is whether he can vanquish the mental aspect of the game. If he does, he could form a formidable backfield tandem alongside Etienne. But if he doesn't, he might fall out of favor in Jacksonville.

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange is entering a make-or-break season in 2024

Like fellow rookie Tank Bigsby, Brenton Strange was expected to earn a role on offense last year but he too wasn't able to do much of note. You could argue that he didn't have many chances behind Evan Engram but the truth is that the coaching staff didn't give the former Penn State Nittany Lion more playing time because they didn't think he would be able to make the most of it. In fact, Luke Farrell got ahead of him on the depth chart.

In the end, Strange finished his rookie season with a measly five receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown. By virtue of being a second-round selection, he will continue to get chances, but he'll need to prove in 2024 that he can be a solid contributor regardless of Engram's spot and workload as the team's top tight end.

When the Jaguars drafted Strange in 2023, the team's brass said that they saw him as a culture fit and valued his versatility at the position. It's now time for him to prove them right.

More Jaguars analysis here: