Which of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ running backs will lead the team in rushing? ESPN makes its projection.
ESPN has released its 2025 projections, including rushing totals for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ running backs.
Mike Clay puts together these win probabilities and stat projections every offseason for each NFL team. When it comes to the running back production for the Jaguars this season, Clay projects a relatively even split.
Travis Etienne finishes the season with 516 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 4.1 yards per rush. Tank Bigsby leads the way with 671 yards and five rushing touchdowns at 4.4 yards per attempt. Then, rookie Bhayshul Tuten totals 363 yards with two touchdowns at 4.3 yards per rush.
There are unknowns around what this running back rotation will look like this season. Tuten is one of James Gladstone and Liam Coen’s ‘guys’ while Etienne and Bigsby were acquired by former GM Trent Baalke.
Bigsby would rush for 766 yards in 2024 but had three fumbles. Etienne, meanwhile, saw his production dip last year, rushing for just 558 yards at 3.7 yards per rush.
Following the NFL draft, Jeremy Fowler would report that he’s talked to multiple people around the NFL who believe that the new Jaguars’ regime “is not so high” on Etienne.
However, even if Tuten is the favorite internally, there is still going to be a learning curve that he will have to navigate. With a new offense being implemented, all three backs are starting over in that regard, but there is something to be said for the experience that Etienne and Bigsby have, both on and off the field, at the NFL level.
In the Jaguars’ first OTA practice this past Monday, Tuten did put the ball on the ground, an issue he faced in college with nine fumbles over the previous two seasons. But Coen also sees a player who is getting more comfortable with the new scheme and speed of the NFL game.
“I think you put the ball on the ground today, that’s kind of stands out,” Coen said of Tuten. “But I thought last week, as we were kind of getting more into the scheme, he was getting a little bit more comfortable. I thought he started to get a little bit more into it, had a couple better runs of feeling the zone and being able to stick his foot in the ground and accelerate.
“So, good learning experience. You know, first time in a live setting in the National Football League, on your first carry, hopefully you learn something from that moment.
As we saw last season with the Tampa Bay offense under Coen, the running back position is going to play a vital role in the success that the Jaguars’ offense has in 2025.
A strong running game will keep the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable down-and-distance situations, which can open up opportunities in the passing game. We also saw the Bucs’ backs play a hefty role as pass-catching targets.
To help facilitate this, GM James Gladstone has heavily reshaped the offensive line this offseason as well.
Until we get further into training camp and perhaps even into the regular season, at this time, I tend to agree with Clay’s projections in that we are going to see all three of these backs utilized somewhat regularly. Or at least that will be the case until someone emerges.
“I think all together, that room, that running back room, has done a nice job in terms of the competition, the acceleration, and the teaching for some of those young guys, and also the veterans doing a nice job of trying to help those guys out as well,” Coen added.