Travis Etienne Injury Updates | Shark Bites

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson said this week that he'd like to limit the 2024 workload for RB Travis Etienne vs. what the starting back got in 2023. Pederson pointed to a D'Ernest Johnson injury and rookie Tank Bigsby's learning curve as two key factors in Etienne's touch total, which ranked third-highest behind Christian McCaffrey and Rachaad White. "It's not the recipe, necessarily, to put Travis in that situation," Pederson said. "So I would consider knocking a few of those reps down to keep him healthy throughout the course of the year." That makes sense. Etienne struggled with efficiency at times in 2023. You'll still find him inside the top 10 in our 2024 RB rankings, though. Johnson is headed for free agency in March. Bigsby obviously remains under contract heading into his second season, and it doesn't sound like the Jags have given up on him yet. "We really like Tank, and he'll have a bigger impact for us this year," Pederson said. We're certainly not betting on strong production from the former third-round pick after he managed just 51 touches and 2.7 yards per touch as a rookie. But consider Pederson's words enough to make Bigsby worth keeping on dynasty benches and considering in the mix of last-round best ball picks.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne totaled 14 carries for 35 yards and a TD in Week 14 vs. the Browns, adding 4 catches for 37 yards. If you've rostered Etienne all season, you've undoubtedly noticed the dropoff in touch volume over the past several weeks. After averaging 23.3 opportunities per game through Week 8, Etienne has dropped to 17.8 since Jacksonville’s bye in Week 9. A Week 12 rib injury might have factored in the past two games. His 78% snap share against Cleveland, though, marked the RB's most playing time since Week 8. Backup D'Ernest Johnson also saw a slight dip in his playing time: from 40% and 36% the previous two games to 26%. That fell in line with his two games immediately following the bye. Etienne gets tough matchups the next two games, against the Ravens and Bucs, that figure to limit his upside. But touch volume should be in his favor. A nice spot against Carolina awaits in Week 17.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has a sprained right ankle and will undergo additional testing on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Lawrence was in a walking boot after the loss to the Bengals but was able to stand at his locker, per NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. We should get an update on Lawrence's injury and timeline for return later today. QB C.J. Beathard played pretty well in relief of Lawrence on Monday, completing nine of 10 passes for 63 yards. Still, Lawrence's absence would be a significant downgrade for all of Jacksonville's skill-position players.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Jaguars are "optimistic" RB Travis Etienne will play Monday night against the Bengals. We're betting he'll play through the rib injury that has limited his practice participation this week, given that Etienne returned to last week's win over the Texans after sustaining the injury. But the situation adds some risk that Jacksonville lightens his workload, especially if the Jags pull ahead of a Bengals team now playing without QB Joe Burrow. Although RB D'Ernest Johnson could get more touches if Jacksonville limits Etienne, we're not betting on Johnson being a starting option for any but the deepest of leagues. Watch for updates to our Week 13 RB rankings throughout the weekend.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (ribs) was limited in Thursday's practice. He briefly left last week's game with this injury but was able to return. He told insider Mia O'Brien that he fully expects to play vs. the Bengals on Monday night. We'll keep an eye on Etienne's status over the next few days, but he can stay penciled into Week 13 fantasy lineups.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne suffered a chest injury in the first half of Sunday's game vs. the Texans and is questionable to return. We'll update his status when we know more. Etienne's absence leaves Jacksonville's backfield to D'Ernest Johnson and Tank Bigbsy.

Update: Etienne returned with a little less than five minutes to go in the second quarter.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Steelers. He's officially questionable to return. We'll update Etienne's status when we know more. His absence would mean opportunity for RB Tank Bigsby.

Update: Etienne returned on Jacksonville's next possession.

ESPN's Adam Schefter calls Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence "uncertain" for Thursday night's game vs. the Saints with his knee sprain. Lawrence's injury “is not a significant thing," a source tells Schefter. But the short turnaround comes at a bad time. We'll keep you updated on Lawrence's status over the next few days. QB C.J. Beathard is Jacksonville's backup.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne told reporters Monday that he was "happy" to finish his 2nd season healthy. But, according to Jaguars Wire, he added, "I just want to put on a little muscle mass, a little more weight, because those guys are really big." Etienne later listed pass protection as an area in which he wants to improve. Weakness in that area might have helped limited Etienne's playing time over the final 4 games, when he played fewer than 30 snaps 3 times (compared with 49+ in 8 straight non-injury games before that). Adding bulk isn't always a great thing for a speedy back, because too much extra muscle can slow him down. Even if that doesn't happen, this change doesn't seem likely to address Etienne's main fantasy issue: a lack of receptions. We'll certainly be watching all factors as the former 1st-round pick approaches his 3rd season. Etienne looks decent as an option in Round 3 or 4 of early best-ball drafts.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne returned Sunday after leaving Week 12 early with a foot injury. But he carried just 13 times for a pedestrian 54 yards and added only 12 yards on 3 catches. RB Snoop Conner handled the only other backfield touch: a 6-yard carry. RB JaMycal Hasty didn't touch the ball. Etienne and his group get a tough draw in Week 14 against the Titans' #1 run defense.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (foot) remained limited in Thursday's practice. We're tentatively expecting him to play vs. the Lions this weekend, but we'll see what Etienne does in Friday's practice and how he's listed on the final injury report.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne was asked about his foot injury after Sunday's win over the Ravens and said, "we'll be straight for next week," according to insider John Shipley. Players, of course, tend to be optimistic about their injuries, so don't go locking Etienne into Week 13 fantasy lineups just yet. But it does sound like he avoided a significant injury. We should get another update on his status on Monday.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne suffered a left foot injury in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Ravens. He headed back to the locker room with trainers and is officially questionable to return. We'll update Etienne's status when we know more. This is the same foot that Etienne injured last year.

Jaguars RB James Robinson finished without a touch on a season-low 17% snap rate in Sunday's loss to the Giants. HC Doug Pederson said Monday that was at least in part to knee trouble. “He has been dealing with some lower body issues, mostly in his knees right now, but he is a big part of what we’re doing," Pederson said. "Just soreness, and he was dealing with it a little bit in the game." Robinson was not listed on the Week 7 injury report. We imagine that he'll be at least a bit more involved going forward, but Travis Etienne has clearly emerged as Jacksonville's lead back. Robinson looks like just a handcuff at this point.

The Jaguars finally gave RB Travis Etienne control of the backfield for Sunday's loss to the Giants. He handled 14 of the team's 15 RB carries, racking up 114 yards and a TD. Etienne caught just 1 of his 5 targets for 5 yards. RB James Robinson, meanwhile, garnered 0 carries and failed to catch his sole target. JaMycal Hasty got the only other RB rush (and 0 targets). Barring a revelation of some injury for Robinson, Etienne is looking startable going forward.

Jags RB Travis Etienne rushed only 4 times for 47 yards in Sunday’s loss to Washington. He added 2 catches on 4 targets but missed out on a potential TD when he dropped a pass near the goal line. The 2nd-year back was also overthrown by Trevor Lawrence in the end zone. Beyond the tough-luck result, it’s certainly concerning that James Robinson out-carried Etienne 11-4. And shockingly, Robinson (Achilles') already looked back to pre-injury form. Next up is a home date with Indianapolis.