Jaguars hope rookie Bhayshul Tuten can eclipse Etienne with 1,500-yard season
Jacksonville looks to Bhayshul Tuten, its 2025 draft pick, to become the team's lead back after Travis Etienne departs for New Orleans.
In 2025, Jacksonville’s offense thrived under first-year head coach Liam Coen, largely thanks to running back Travis Etienne’s 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Etienne’s free-agency move to the New Orleans Saints leaves a vacancy at the position. The Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the 2025 NFL Draft and now anticipate he will assume the starting role for the entire 2026 campaign.
Tuten publicly targets 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, numbers that would place him fourth in rushing yards and tie him for second in touchdowns league-wide last season. By contrast, his rookie year yielded just 307 yards and five scores over 15 appearances, underscoring the magnitude of the challenge ahead. If he meets his objectives, Tuten could emerge as one of the NFL’s top rushers and solidify Jacksonville’s ground game.
Why it matters
The Jaguars' success hinges on replacing a key rusher, and Tuten's breakout could reshape their offense.
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