2 min read • May 30, 2022
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After a 3-14 season with an offense that ranked dead last in points score, the Jacksonville Jaguars may enter the season with an embarrassment of riches on offense.
New head coach Doug Pederson will look to right the ship after Urban Meyer's disastrous tenure. That may start with how Pederson deploys two running backs coming off of injury.
The No. 25 overall draft pick out of Clemson missed the entire 2021 season with a left foot Lisfranc injury he suffered in Week 2 of the preseason.
Etienne is back on the field at OTAs, having been fully cleared for practice activities.
All of this leads to tempered enthusiasm for Etienne, according to our panel of Pro Football Docs.
“The practice video shows Etienne's foot is OK, but he doesn't seem dynamic yet,” said Dr. David Chao. “Recovery from a Lisfranc injury is more difficult for a smaller, quick back relying on burst.”
He enters the season with a SIC score of 79, indicating he still has a ways to go in regaining his old burst.
The 23-year-old projects as the Jaguars' “big play threat” out of the backfield and will likely split carries with Robinson or simply serve as the third-down back.
His usage early in the season will depend on Robinson's recovery timeline from his torn Achilles.
Robinson, the Jaguars' third year rusher, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot on Dec. 26 and missed the remainder of the season.
He has yet to be cleared for a return to the practice field and it's no guarantee he can make it by Week 1, according to the Pro Football Docs. There is a slight chance he starts training camp on the PUP list.
An Achilles tendon tear, even for a young running back, is not typically a quick bounce back injury. Rams running back Cam Akers miraculously returned in just six months, but was clearly not 100% in the playoffs and produced lackluster results.
Robinson has a longer timeline, at nine months, but he's unlikely to be 100% by the start of the season and may require a “ramp up” period.
In mid-May, Pederson provided an update on the 23-year-old former Illinois State University product.
"He’s obviously not doing the things physically now on the football field, but we’re hoping at some point during training camp that that becomes more of a reality for us and he’s doing extremely well,” Pederson told reporters.
When Robinson does return to the field, don't expect positive results right away, our panel of Pro Football Docs warn. When coming back from an Achilles tear, running backs and wideouts typically don't hit their stride until the second half of the season.
That will likely be the case for Robinson as well.
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Leftovers from Monday. Chop step, go. Travis Etienne on point.
