With Travis Etienne Jr. gone, explosive sophomore Bhayshul Tuten and powerful veteran Chris Rodriguez Jr. clash for the starting role as voluntary workouts ignite a new backfield era.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to begin OTAs on Tuesday, May 26. All eyes will be focused on the RB Battle between second-year back Bhayshul Tuten and newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr., who came to Jacksonville from the Washington Commanders.
The Jags will be relying heavily on both to make up for the lost production of Travis Etienne Jr., who left the Jaguars for the New Orleans Saints in free agency.
Both Tuten and Rodriguez Jr. are expected to see more touches than they have earned so far in their NFL careers. Tuten was the clear second back behind Etienne last year, while Rodriguez played mostly second fiddle to Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Washington.
Now each has a shot to prove he can be the leader of his own backfield. LeQuint Allen Jr., also in his second year, should also see an uptick in snaps in 2026.
Who Has The Edge?
Both Tuten and Rodriguez bring something different to the Jaguars. Tuten is the more explosive and dynamic back, while Rodriguez is more of a bruising, downhill runner. Rodriguez should be seen as the more dependable back in short-yardage situations, whereas Tuten is the RB with the higher ceiling.
One advantage Tuten clearly has is his ability to be a factor in the passing game, which was a big part of Etienne's role with the Jags. Rodriguez, on the other hand, has only hauled in six receptions over his three NFL seasons.
In terms of talent, it would appear that Tuten has the overall edge. However, the experience advantage Rodriguez holds may be invaluable. Even if Tuten earns the RB1 spot heading into the season, HC Liam Coen will surely have him on a tight leash. If Tuten stumbles out of the gate, Rodriguez could soon find himself as the top back.
Don't forget that Coen was Kentucky's Offensive Coordinator in 2021, when Rodriguez rushed for 1379 yards and nine TDS as a junior for the Wildcats. His familiarity with Rodriguez as a lead back could give the fourth-year RB an edge.
James Gladstone Is Excited To Have Both
Even though the Jaguars lost a good running back in Etienne, GM James Gladstone is excited to have both Tuten and Rodriguez for the upcoming season.
"It's really exciting because Bhayshul was in a spot obviously where he didn't receive the bulk of the carries, but certainly had his moments to shine throughout the course of the year and showcase a good chunk of what he has to offer," Gladstone said. "So, it's a really good crew that we feel confident in at this stage. Look forward seeing how things unfold throughout the course of the spring and allowing our coaches to get hands on with Chris and see how that all takes shape.
"But as it stands, it's a fairly well-rounded, complementary group and we're excited about it."
Final Thoughts
Expect Tuten's upside to shine through in OTAs. He clearly is the more talented RB and should excel in his opportunity to win the RB1 job. However, Rodriguez also has a lot to offer the Jags, and will be heavily featured as well.
We get our first look at the RB battle on Tuesday, and how it shakes out it should remain the Jags' most intriguing positional competition until the season starts.
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