‘A clear weakness’ — Jaguars positional group gets put on blast by national outlet, and it shines the spotlight on one new starter
The Jaguars are going through life without Travis Etienne, and his former backup will need to shine in 2206.
The Jacksonville Jaguars should look largely the same in 2026 on the offensive side of the ball, with the exception of one notable former starter in Travis Etienne. The Jags’ second 2022 first-round draft pick found his new football home this offseason back in his native Louisiana with the Saints.
And it’s that departure that has one notable writer a bit down on the Jaguars’ running back room going into the 2026 season.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked all 32 teams’ skill position groups (WR/TE/RB groups), and he had the Jaguars at No. 18. While Barnwell expressed optimism around the Jags’ wide receivers, his concerns lie in the backfield, and he had some less-than-complimentary words for second-year runner Bhayshul Tuten.
Jaguars ranked No. 18 in ESPN’s ranking of NFL skill position groups, with criticism of the running back room
“I’m holding out hope of Thomas returning to form and the wideouts around him doing enough to impress, but running back is a clear weakness,” Barnwell wrote. “Bhayshul Tuten showed little explosiveness as a rookie while averaging 3.7 yards per carry and fumbling twice on 93 touches. With Travis Etienne Jr. leaving, Tuten will be expected to assume a larger role. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a useful runner, but he offers less as a receiver than any other regularly seen back in the NFL, and the former Commanders back is already battling a foot injury.”
I think that might be a little bit harsh on Tuten, as far as looking solely at the yards per carry and a lack of explosiveness. The Jaguars’ 2025 fourth-round pick out of Virginia Tech turned those 93 touches (83 rushes and 10 catches) into seven touchdowns, which is obviously a terrific ratio. The speed is undoubtedly there, as we saw at the NFL Combine with a 4.32 40-yard dash as well as in spurts on the field last season.
Rodriguez has been dealing with a foot injury this offseason. but he doesn’t have to offer much as a receiver, as Tuten and LeQuint Allen, Jr. can handle those roles ably. He’s the short yardage and goal line thunder that the running back group needs.
I think it’s still to be determined what this group is, and I can understand why they’re the question mark of the offensive skill position roster groups, but calling them a clear weakness at this point might be a bit of a stretch.