Who Will Lead the Jaguars' Backfield in 2026?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have plenty of positives on offense heading into the 2026 NFL season, from the return of their entire starting lineup in the trenches, to one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league in Trevor Lawrence.

One big question hanging over the unit is the state of their backfield, following a key departure in the offseason.

As they look to build on the surprising success they enjoyed in 2025 with a first-year head coach in Liam Coen, the Jags will have to figure out the pecking order among their running backs if they want to live up to much higher expectations this season.

Travis Etienne Jr. Left in Free Agency

The Jags opted not to re-sign Etienne this offseason, despite an impressive 2025 campaign, where his versatility and playmaking ability was unleashed by Coen's innovative offensive scheme. Etienne racked up nearly 1,400 yards of total offense, finding the end zone seven times on the ground, and six more times through the air.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Etienne opted to sign with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, giving him a homecoming of sorts. Meanwhile, Jacksonville is left with a void at the top of the depth chart following his departure, with little in terms of proven production to fill his spot.

"I think it's a group that has a lot of opportunities to them," Coen told reporters this week of the situation at running back following Etienne's departure. "It's a wide-open room. It's truly wide open."

Bhayshul Tuten Has Sky-High Upside, But One Fatal Flaw

Jacksonville spent a fourth-round pick in last year's NFL Draft on Tuten, an explosive runner out of Virginia Tech with impressive strength and power for his size. His vision and quickness when working between the tackles, along with his elite high-end speed and burst, made him a big-play machine for the Hokies.

"I really like how Tuten's run it this spring so far, and the way he looks, as opposed to last year at this time," Coen said.

The one thing holding Tuten back from reaching his full potential is ball security, which showed up during his rookie season (multiple fumbles on just 93 offensive touches). The skill set is there for Tuten to replace Etienne as the lead back in the Jags' offense, but if he can't learn to hold onto the ball, he won't be able to keep that role for long.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Brings Valuable Experience

In an effort to replace some of the experience they lost with Etienne's departure, the Jags signed veteran Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year deal in free agency. At 5-11, 224 pounds, Rodriguez brings power and efficiency to the Jacksonville backfield, having averaged nearly five yards per carry over his three seasons with the Washington Commanders.

"I think Chris will be a good added 'thump' that we continue to need, and get some of those hard yards," Coen told reporters this week. "

Rodriguez doesn't bring a ton of pass-catching value to the table (just six receptions in 35 career games), but he was impressive as an early-down option for Washington last season, rushing for 500 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts). His ability to consistently produce more than four yards per rushing attempt could make him the favorite to beat out Tuten for the early-down work in Jacksonville.

Don't Sleep on LeQuint Allen Jr.

One intriguing candidate who could earn significant snaps in the offense is Allen, who was a member of Tuten's same draft class last year as a seventh-round pick. He only carried the ball 23 times as a rookie, seeing most of his action on kick returns. But Allen averaged 4.1 yards per carry, more than Tuten's 3.7-yard mark.

"I think LeQuint had carved out a nice role for himself last year," Coen said. "I think he's eager for more, and to get more involved in the pass game and in the run game."

Allen is a well-rounded back who may not have Tuten's speed or Rodriguez's size, but he was a productive runner in college at Syracuse, averaging nearly 1,300 yards of total offense per year over his final two seasons. He may be more reliable than Tutan as an early-down back, and brings more upside on passing downs than Rodriguez.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:05 PM.