Impact Etienne had his entire rookie season wiped out after the 2021 first-round pick suffered a Lisfranc injury in the preseason that later required surgery. Heading into last season, Etienne was expected to work in tandem out of the backfield with James Robinson and handle a key role in the passing game, but the Clemson product may head into the offseason as the Jaguars' clear No. 1 back while Robinson works his way back from the torn Achilles' tendon he suffered in late December. Pederson already has ruled Robinson out through OTAs and minicamp, potentially giving Etienne a chance to log most of the first-team work if he's ready to go early in the offseason program, as the coach predicts. Beyond Etienne and Robinson, the Jaguars have little in the way of proven depth in the backfield, as the other three running backs on the roster (Ryquell Armstead, Mekhi Sargent and Nathan Cottrell) have combined for 56 career carries.
MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
