5 Jaguars staring at the chance to earn their 1st Pro Bowl nomination in 2023

3. Jaguars player staring at this 1st Pro Bowl selection: Travis Etienne, RB

The Jaguars raised eyebrows when they drafted Travis Etienne 25th overall in 2021 but it was a smart decision in retrospect. At the time, James Robinson was coming off a historic rookie campaign, one in which he totaled 1,414 yards from scrimmage. But even though Robinson proved he could be a featured back, the Jags believed Etienne's playmaking skills could give the offense a boost.

Unfortunately, the Jags had to wait more than a year to see Etienne take the football field. See, the former Clemson Tiger suffered a Lisfranc injury in the 2021 preseason and missed his rookie campaign. Then, he started the 2022 season behind Robinson but made most of his chances. This led the front office to ship Robinson to the New York Jets, which paved the way for Etienne to take center stage.

Etienne finished the 2022 season with 1,125 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Without having to rehab this offseason, he's been able to hone his skills, which should lead to an even more productive season, even after the arrival of rookie Tank Bigsby to the backfield.

In previous years, Derrick Henry was not just the best running back in the division but in the whole league. This season though, his reign could come to an end. Both Etienne and Jonathan Taylor will challenge him for the throne and a Pro Bowl berth. With Henry expected to eventually lose a step and Taylor coming back from injuries, Etienne might be the chosen one.