5 Jaguars not named Trevor Lawrence who must show out vs. the Colts in 2023 opener
• He, along with other Jaguars players, will need a strong outing vs. the Colts
No. 4 Jaguars who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Travis Etienne, RB
Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy raised eyebrows when he said the Jaguars' offense runs through Travis Etienne. As analyst Ryan Michael noted, that's far from the case, and Jacksonville was one of the most quarterback-dependant teams in the league to finish the 2022 season.
2022: #Jaguars were 4-0 when ETN had his four LOWEST rushing totals of the season.
— Ryan Michael (@theryanmichael) September 7, 2023
They were 0-2 during his two HIGHEST.#DUUUVAL is 3-17 anytime Lawrence’s passer rating dips below 90.0.
No team in professional football is more QB-dependent than Jacksonville. https://t.co/WCStvUnovN pic.twitter.com/fCoVeuFyN2
That said, Etienne will take lots of pressure off Trevor Lawrence's shoulders if he can consistently move the ball against a stout Colts' defensive front that includes DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Kwity Paye.
If Etienne does a good job of running the ball early on, he'll force Indy to stack up the box, which in turn will open things up for Lawrence and the passing game.
No. 3 Jaguars player who must show out vs. the Colts in Week 1: Anton Harrison, RG
The Jaguars drafted Anton Harrison 27th to replace Jawaan Taylor, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. From the get-go, the team's brass made it clear that Harrison was going to start in the opener and the time has come.
The former Oklahoma Sooner is switching sides, having played left tackle in college. However, the transition has been smooth and signs point toward him being able to hold the fort against Indianapolis' pass rushers.
Back in training camp, Harrison was dealing with a shoulder injury that slowed him down in training camp. The fact that he didn't appear on the Injury Report and is a full-go against the Colts should be a reason for optimism.