Travis Etienne's Decline Could Lead to Jaguars Trade Decision
According to Mark Long of the Associated Press, even entrenched starters like offensive tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison are expected to earn their roles during training camp. That approach underscores a broader shift within the organization—one focused on raising the roster's ceiling through relentless competition at every position.
Advertisement
But this isn't just coach-speak or motivational fluff. The front office appears to be backing it up with action, quietly reshaping the roster in ways that could push multiple veterans out of the picture entirely.
Among those under the microscope is running back Travis Etienne Jr.—and not just because of stats.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, league executives say Jacksonville's new regime of coaches and executives is 'not so high' on Etienne. That includes new general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen, both of whom have brought a new philosophy to town.
Rookie Bhayshul Tuten, in particular, is viewed as someone who could carve out an immediate role in the backfield. That spells trouble for Etienne, who was already trending downward entering the offseason.
Advertisement
It's been a rollercoaster ride for the former first-rounder. After missing his rookie year with a Lisfranc injury, Etienne exploded across the 2022 and 2023 seasons with 2,925 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns—earning a spot in the top 10 of Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2023. But that momentum didn't carry over.
In 2024, Etienne started all 15 games he played but was regularly out-snapped and out-produced by second-year back Tank Bigsby. He finished the season with just 558 rushing yards, 254 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns—all career lows.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the second quarter © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Now entering a contract year and facing declining usage and internal support, Etienne's future in Jacksonville looks uncertain. The Jaguars may decide to move on entirely, flipping him for draft capital rather than risk losing him in free agency with nothing in return.
Advertisement
And Etienne may not be alone. If other veterans like Little, Harrison, or additional established players fail to hold off the influx of young talent, the Jaguars could emerge as a surprise seller before Week 1.
In Jacksonville, a new era has clearly arrived—and some familiar names could be on the move because of it.
Related: Hunter Renfrow Returns to NFL With Familiar Jersey Number, Faces Former QB Trevor Lawrence Week 1
Related: Clemson Pockets ACC's $45 Million But Financial Fight Far From Over
Related: Billy Napier Reflects on Clemson Firing by Dabo Swinney That Changed Everything
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Khalen Saunders shares first impressions of Jaguars' defense
After his first practice with the team, new Jaguars' DT Khalen Saunders shared his initial impressions of the defense. Khalen Saunders found out he was being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars not long after the preseason game against his former team, the New Orleans Saints. Not long after Saunders got home from the stadium, and in the midst of a game of Fortnite, he received a call from Saints' coach Kellen Moore to tell him the news. Admittedly, Saunders was surprised, but then that feeling quickly turned to excitement when he learned he was joining the Jaguars. "I always keep an eye out, watching around different defenses, and man, these guys attack," Saunders said of the Jaguars' defense. Saunders knew about the disruptive edge rushers the Jaguars have with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, while DaVon Hamilton and he are represented by the same agency. So the two were able to connect prior to Saunders' arrival in Jacksonville. The addition of Saunders to the Jaguars' defensive tackle room provides a big boost in depth. Saunders is an experienced and accomplished player in his career, who adds another run-stuffing presence to the position. However, as defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile described after Wednesday's practice, he also likes Saunders' ability to get after the quarterback as well. Saunders could immediately slot in as a rotational defender behind DaVon Hamilton. Skill set-wise, he fits well in Campanile's 4-3 scheme and Saunders likes the versatility and movement that comes with this system. "Oh, I love him," Saunders said of Campanile. "He's a good guy. He knows what he wants. That's the most important part, I feel like. When you have a coach who specifically knows what he wants on each play. And there's a reason behind everything, and I love that because I've always been trying to get the philosophy behind the play calling. Saunders continued, "Coach Camp, he knows exactly what he wants. He knows how he wants it executed, even down to like where you want us to step and the technique you want us to go with when we're moving and stuff like that. I like that very particular detail because it makes it easier on me." Saunders also brings big-game experience to the Jaguars, having won two Super Bowls during his time with Kansas City.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Jaguars coach evaluates current state of DT unit after latest boosts to depth
With the addition of Khalen Saunders along with Arik Armstead and Maason Smith returning to practice, Anthony Campanile evaluated the Jaguars DT unit. In the matter of just a few days, the Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive tackle unit looks a lot different. Earlier in the week, the Jaguars traded for Khalen Saunders, while during Tuesday and Wednesday's practices, Arik Armstead and Maason Smith were back participating in team drills. "I think it makes a difference with all those guys out there," Anthony Campanile said on Wednesday. "They look good. I thought they did a good job in the rush today and do a good job in the run game. They're big explosive bodies, so I think that's going to be a big help to us and that's something we're excited about." Armstead and Smith had been sidelined all of training camp with injuries, which resulted in the Jaguars relying very heavily on the recently signed Austin Johnson, along with Jordan Jefferson and Tyler Lacy. Defensive tackle is a position that has had its unknowns dating back to the offseason. Those question marks lingered when no major outside additions were made in free agency or the NFL draft, and the uncertainty grew while Armstead and Smith were sidelined. But now with those two back in the fold, the unit gets an obvious boost. Armstead is back at defensive tackle, where he put together some dominant seasons in San Francisco. With Smith, the Jaguars are hoping to see a Year 2 leap from him in Campanile's more attacking and movement-heavy scheme. The addition of Saunders provides another run-stuffing presence along the interior and someone who has played in big games in his career, having won two Super Bowls. However, Campanile also likes Saunders' ability to rush the passer as well. "Toughness," Campanile said of Saunders. "He is a really, really twitchy guy, in my opinion. Watching him and all that, just watching him go through the drills and everything, he brings a level of physicality. I think he has tremendous block release, to be honest with you. "When you watch him, he does a really good job of not staying blocked. He's hard to move on the inside along the interior. So it's always great to have a twitchy guy like that inside where you feel like you can still get some rush even in early down action once he reacts to dropback or play-action pass." Improved play from the tackle position in 2025 can go a long way in getting better play out of the entire defense as a whole.
NBC Sports
3 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Louis Rees-Zammit became "fed up" with NFL
The NFL means Not For Long, in more ways than one. For Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, it didn't take much time for him to realize that a pro football career was not in the cards. So he pulled the plug and went back to his original sport. 'I just felt like I was kind of wasting my talent out there,' Rees-Zammit said, via the Times. 'It's very difficult to get into the NFL if you haven't gone through the college system. You just don't get the same opportunities as those boys. I was getting minimal reps, and it was just something that I was fed up with when I was practicing there.' During his time with the Chiefs and Jaguars, Rees-Zammit witnessed the ever-revolving door. 'It was absolutely brutal,' he said. 'I was seeing new players every day, players cut every day. It was pretty tough, and I knew that going out there.' Rees-Zammit did not make it to the active roster for any NFL team. He spent time with both the Chiefs and Jaguars. He played some preseason football. But, ultimately, he decided he wouldn't make it. The kicker may have come from witnessing the influx of a new crop of college players during the 2025 offseason program. That's the case every year. Fresh prospects, who have been playing tackle football for years. And so Rees-Zammit has returned to the sport that he grew up playing, where that experience gives him a significant advantage against someone like, say, a career pro football player who decides to take up rugby on a whim.
