Travis Etienne provides update on recovery from foot injury, says he’s running again

Travis Etienne provided an update of where he is in terms of his recovery and it seems like he’s made significant progress since January.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of work to do on the offensive side of the ball in terms of adding skill weapons around Trevor Lawrence, but some weapons on the team currently will be returning from injuries and could make big-time contributions. That includes veterans like tight end Dan Arnold and receiver Jamal Agnew, who had a good connection with the rookie quarterback when healthy. 

Another name that fans often forget about who could provide a boost to the offense is the Jags’ other 2021 first-round pick in Travis Etienne, who was lost in the preseason with a Lisfranc injury. And while he only saw limited action before the injury, it was clear the Jags had plans for him and missed the speed they were hoping he would provide desperately. 

However, with the season over, Etienne has been focused on his recovery and has made significant progress since the last update fans were given through former Jags interim coach Darrell Bevell in January. On a recent episode of The Players Podcast, Etienne told host Darien Rencher that he was now running and recently got back in the gym, too, to begin basic exercises like squats. 

“My foot is doing much better,” Etienne said. “Really just got back into the gym for the first time and I’m squatting for the first time this past week. So that’s been good and I’ve been running for a while now. I’m kind of getting to that 80% to 85% range. Definitely, just heading in the right direction, and as you know with this injury you have to take it day-by-day man. You can’t skip no days.”

When considering the state of the Jags’ running back room with James Robinson sustaining a major injury, too, after an Achilles tear, this is certainly good news for Etienne, the team, and fans.

With the Jags naming Doug Pederson their new coach, the excitement to see Etienne in action may be a bit higher than it was before. As an innovative coach who has gotten some pretty respectable numbers out of rushers like Boston Scott and Miles Sanders, Etienne could be due for a great 2022 season.

Of course, before we get to that point he must get back to 100%, though. However, based on the news he broke to Rencher, it appears he’s focused on getting to that point and will be back to himself in no time.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne compares missing rookie season to not eating cake at a birthday party

Etienne also updated the status of his recovery, saying he expects to be full-go by camp in July.

Jacksonville did not improve enough this past offseason to avoid having the worst record in the NFL once again, but as the offense struggled this season, one couldn’t help but wonder if things could have been different if it had another playmaker available in Travis Etienne.

The first-round pick missed his entire rookie season after suffering a Lisfranc fracture in his foot during the preseason. Etienne said that not being able to see the field as a rookie was like going to a birthday party as a kid but not being allowed to have any cake.

“I think being in the meetings every day, it helped me in a way, helped me in a sense because I felt like I was a part of it,” Etienne said, per John Reid of The Florida Times-Union. “I feel like I was a part of everything. I was like a little kid going to the birthday, but I just couldn’t have any birthday cake.

“That’s the best way I can put it. That’s how this year’s been for me. So next year, I’m just looking forward to just indulging in all the cake that I can.”

Etienne was one of the best running backs in the country in college, and he was drafted as a change of pace option for running back James Robinson, who can also make plays through the air. The Jags also drafted his college quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.

He’s not back to 100% yet, but he expects to be healthy come training camp in July.

“I definitely feel like as of now I’ll be ready,” Etienne said. “I’m ready to go. The next milestone for me is to get back doing weightlifting, like squats and stuff like that. I haven’t really been squatting because it is a Lisfranc injury, and it was in the bottom of the foot.

“My upper body has never looked better. I feel like mentally, I just had to slow down, take a step back and enjoy the process. This is my first-ever injury. I had to step back and look at the game from the outside in. I did get the injury, but I never thought it would happen. I feel when I get back on the field, it’s going to be different.”

The role the coaches had in mind for Etienne remains largely an enigma, as he had just two carries for three yards in the preseason. Given Robinson’s ability, he likely wasn’t going to be the feature back, but his abilities in the receiving game could add another dimension to his role.

The Jaguars will hope that Etienne’s recovery continues without hindrance and that he’s able to go once camp begins this summer.

Report: Jaguars RB Travis Etienne to undergo foot surgery Thursday

Jags RB Travis Etienne is set to have foot surgery today. Afterward, he’ll begin a four-month recovery process.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2021 first round pick Travis Etienne is officially set to have surgery today. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Etienne will undergo a procedure by Dr. Robert Anderson to repair the Lisfranc injury he sustained in the Jags’ preseason game against New Orleans. 

The loss of Etienne for the season was a big hit for the Jags as they spent the No. 25 overall pick on him in April. They were hoping to add some speed and explosiveness to their offense through the All-Time leading Atlantic Coast Conference leader from Clemson, but those plans will now have to wait until next season. 

When asked about the significance of Etienne’s injury, Jags coach Urban Meyer told the media that he felt it was a huge blow for the Jags’ young offense.

“It was a shot to the jaw,” said Meyer. “He was really coming on in practice. We saw his big-play ability in practice, not in a game yet. [It’s] a tough injury. How do we fill that? We’re still having that conversation right now.”

Etienne finished the preseason with just two rushing attempts for three rushing yards and caught a pass for three yards, so the Jags were clearly trying to still get a feel for him. They have yet to find a similar player at the position, but Meyer reiterated that the position concerned him on Tuesday, and with just three running backs on the roster, one would have to think they will sign one soon.

Urban Meyer calls Travis Etienne’s injury a ‘shot to the jaw’

Jags HC Urban Meyer really liked what he saw out of Travis Etienne in practice and believes the team took a big blow after his injury.

The Jacksonville Jaguars sustained their first significant injury of the 2021 season, and it was one sustained by first-round pick Travis Etienne. In the first half of Monday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, he endured a foot sprain that sidelined him after just one carry and reception. Then on Tuesday, it was revealed that the injury would require surgery, which caused him to be designated to injured reserve.

With Jags coach Urban Meyer taking questions from the media Wednesday, Etienne’s situation was one of the first topics discussed, and the first-year head coach didn’t hold back about how significant of a blow the team took.

“It was a shot to the jaw,” said Meyer. “He was really coming on in practice. We saw his big-play ability in practice, not in a game yet. [It’s] a tough injury. How do we fill that? We’re still having that conversation right now.”

The Jags drafted Etienne 25th overall this April out of Clemson in hopes that he would bring speed and explosion to an offense that needed it. He flashed at times in training camp but wasn’t able to translate it to the Jags’ first two preseason games, registering just two carries for three yards. Additionally, as a receiver, he only had a catch for three yards.

In a nutshell, the Jags were hoping they would have a running back who would help them immensely on the receiving end, and it’s now back to the drawing board. They have speed options on the team to help them like Tavon Austin, who is a versatile player the Dallas Cowboys once listed as a running back. However, it’s probably best the Jags let him focus on playing receiver and returning kicks and punts.

As for the free-agent market, a name that has been mentioned is running back Duke Johnson, who has 2,829 career receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to his name. He last played for the Houston Texans last season, so he’s well aware of the division. And if not him, the Jags are atop of the waiver order, so that could be an option as well.

James Robinson should be named the No. 1 player at the position, while Carlos Hyde is likely to be behind him. Then behind those two are Dare Ogunbowale, Devine Ozigbo, and Nathan Cottrell, all of whom have made plays in the preseason that could land them at the RB4 role when it comes to naming the final roster.

Jaguars place RB Travis Etienne on injured reserve, ending rookie season

The rookie season of Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, is officially over. He was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.

The rookie season of first-round pick Travis Etienne is officially over.

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed the rookie running back on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending his 2021 season.

Etienne suffered a foot injury during Monday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints and needs surgery. By going on injured reserve now, Etienne is not eligible to be designated for return during the 2021 season.

The Jaguars made Etienne the 25th overall pick in the 2021 draft. He is a two-time ACC Player of the Year and the leading rusher in Clemson school history.

The Jaguars will turn the running back position over to James Robinson, who rushed for 1,070 yards and scored 10 touchdowns during his rookie season in 2020.

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Report: Jags rookie Travis Etienne to undergo foot surgery, season could possibly be ended

The Jags, who need all the speed they can get on their offense, just received a big blow in terms of Travis Etienne’s injury.

The Jacksonville Jaguars now have their first significant injury of the season to deal with and it was one sustained by No. 25 overall pick Travis Etienne. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the foot injury he sustained in Monday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints is worse than initially believed and will require foot surgery and could end his season.

Specifically, Etienne injured his Lisfranc (mid-foot bone) in the first half of Monday’s game. He registered a three-yard reception and one-yard carry before having to come off the field and was later seen in a walking boot.

On Tuesday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said his sources said Etienne’s X-ray was negative, but it appears surgery is indeed necessary and will likely happen as soon as possible.

After Schefter’s report came out, Rapoport came out to say a minimum of 12 weeks could be the time line for Etienne’s return (19 days remain before Jags’ first game). If all goes well, Rapoport felt that Etienne could have a late season return, but ultimately time will tell.

The loss of Etienne is a huge one for the Jags because they lack speed and selected him for that reason. Luckily, running back is a position they were deep at with James Robinson leading the way and veteran Carlos Hyde behind him. While neither player has the speed that Etienne does, they have plenty of power and are proven running backs.

Behind those two players, the Jags have Dare Ogunbowale, Devine Ozigbo, and Nathan Cottrell, all of whom flashed in one of the two preseason games the Jags have taken part in. If the Jags don’t look elsewhere for a speed threat, one of the three now have a chance to make the roster as the Jags’ fourth running back.

Report: Travis Etienne dealing with a Lisfranc injury, X-rays come back negative

Etienne left Monday’s game against the Saints in the first half and was later seen in a boot, but his X-rays returned negative, per Ian Rapoport.

After a slow Week 1 preseason start to his career, rookie running back Travis Etienne also didn’t have his best game during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. He only was able to register one carry for a yard and a three-yard reception before exiting the game with a foot injury that eventually put him in a walking boot afterward

Of course, Etienne’s situation has left many fans concerned, and thanks to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, we have an update. While more testing will be required to determine how long he will be out, his X-rays came back negative, so the signs point to Etienne just having a sprain. 

Etienne, who was drafted with the No. 25 overall pick in April, was brought onto the roster to add speed and explosiveness to the offense. However, there is now reason to be concerned as to whether or not he will be able to play in the team’s first regular season game. Still, this news could’ve been worse and Etienne should be able to help the Jags at some point in the regular season.

While he hasn’t garnered a lot of stats this preseason, it appears Etienne has simply been a victim of bad circumstances. His reception against the Saints could’ve led to a first-down had he not slipped and the target he received against the Cleveland Browns could’ve been a huge gain, but quarterback Gardner Minshew II overthrew him. 

When considering all of these factors, fans will have to wait to see the true impact Etienne can make, but the focus now should be shifted towards getting healthy. The Jags have 19 days until their first regular season game against the Houston Texans, giving the rookie plenty of time to get right though more time could be needed. 

We’ll be sure to provide updates on Etienne’s status as they come.

Travis Etienne questionable to return after exiting with foot injury in first half against Saints

Etienne only saw a few plays before he had to leave the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne didn’t play at all in the first quarter of Jacksonville’s second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, and once he finally got on the field, he couldn’t stay on it for long.

After just three snaps, the rookie exited with a foot injury and was listed as questionable to return. He was seen limping on the sideline, and he was evaluated by the training staff in the medical tent, according to the Florida Times-Union’s John Reid.

Etienne, who the Jaguars took with the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, had just one carry for one yard and a catch for three yards. This comes after he failed to make much of an impact in the first preseason game, either, totaling two yards on his lone carry in that game.

Jacksonville clearly wants to see more production from Etienne, whose selection was seen as a bit of a gamble at the time. But even if he’s cleared to return to this game, it may not make sense to risk further injury to a player who will almost certainly see a large workload in the regular season.

We’ll update Etienne’s status and any other injuries that occur after the game.

Travis Etienne named Jaguars’ most pivotal non-Trevor Lawrence rookie

According to Lance Zierlein, Travis Etienne’s play will be more crucial than any other rookie not named Trevor Lawrence.

Whenever a team drafts a franchise quarterback, that quarterback’s play essentially becomes a referendum on the administration that picked him. Such will almost inevitably be the case for Jacksonville Jaguars’ first overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who is the most important rookie from the 2021 class.

But he’s not the only one who has a lot to prove at the NFL level. Many analysts questioned Jacksonville’s use of the 25th pick in the 2021 draft, with which the team selected Clemson running back Travis Etienne. Considering the diminishing value of the position and the play of undrafted rookie James Robinson in 2020, the pick was a bit head-scratching, to say the least.

But in Etienne, the Jags staff sees a dynamic player who can make an impact both on the ground and through the air, as the most successful modern backs (e.g. Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara) can.

Etienne’s preseason debut was a bit lackluster. He saw just one carry as the backup to Robinson (who himself only saw three carries) and it went for just two yards.

That doesn’t exactly leave us much to talk about this week, but NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein still felt comfortable naming Etienne the most pivotal rookie for the Jaguars outside of Lawrence.

I’m not going to make the obvious selection of Trevor Lawrence for this spot so we can take a deeper look at the Jaguars’ draft class. Cornerback Tyson Campbell has all the traits and has generated some buzz this summer, but let’s not overthink it. Etienne is a slasher with very good power and he’s developed into quite a pass-catcher. His Clemson pedigree and ability to help on all three downs should give Lawrence an even better chance to succeed as a rookie.

Robinson likely still projects as the No. 1 back, but he was asked to contribute an unsustainable amount of carries, and having Etienne as a change of pace back should ease his workload tremendously.

We’ll likely see an expanded role for Etienne in the coming preseason games, as it remains largely unclear in what capacity the team intends to use him. But it seems like a safe bet that Etienne will see a lot of action as the team’s third-down back in 2021.

Darrell Bevell discusses depth at RB, making the group versatile

Darrell Bevell and Urban Meyer have put a lot of time into the Jags’ rushing unit, which points to the group being a focal point of the offense.

If it wasn’t clear before, it’s becoming obvious the Jacksonville Jaguars want to run the ball well when looking at how they treated the running backs group this offseason. Despite already have a power-back who could handle a big load in James Robinson, the Jags signed Urban Meyer’s former running back from Ohio State, Carlos Hyde, in free agency. Afterward, they also spent a first-round pick on the explosive Travis Etienne, who they took 25th overall.

With the team taking the field for training camp Wednesday, the media and fans have gotten a chance to observe the players within the group. In fact, Etienne was one of the stars of Day 2’s session, showcasing the explosion fans witnessed at Clemson, and now many are warming up to his selection as he could gel well with Robinson.

After practice, this resulted in the media asking offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell about having depth at the running back position, which is something he felt is a necessity for today’s game.

“That’s what we need, you know I feel like this game is built that way,” Bevell said. “I know Coach Meyer believes that — that you run the ball first and that we want to able to kind of exert our will on the opponent. It helps us do other things in the pass game and get big plays in the pass game — those kinds of things are what we’re looking to do. To have a number of backs back there — I think there are a lot of guys that are looking really good and it’s just better for us.”

It certainly makes sense that Meyer would want depth at running back when looking at some of his collegiate teams of the past. While they were more of a speed duo, he had Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey during his time at Florida and certainly worked out for the better. Now, he has more of a mixed group that offers speed and power when it comes to Robinson, Etienne, and Hyde. Additionally, with the NFL moving to 17 games now, it isn’t exactly a bad thing to have three guys with starter potential in one group.

While it’s only been two days, the media has taken note of a trend where the running backs have been utilized as pass-catchers frequently since camp has started. When asked about it, Bevell said the reasoning behind that was to get the running backs more comfortable with contributing in the passing game, just as they do for the run game.

“I think — interesting observation you have, that’s really good and I think the thing that’s important for us is that all of those guys can run the ball,” Bevell said. “There are some things that are harder at each position and we want to practice the things that are the hardest. If we can practice things that are hardest then they will get better at them and then those things become things that they’re more comfortable with.

“A lot of running backs … You know I was talking to James [RB Robinson] yesterday and was like how many catches did you have in college and he was like hey we just ran power. They didn’t throw me the ball very much and you know that’s just what happens and you know the more well-rounded you can make the players, the more successful our offense has a chance to be.”

These comments certainly indicate that rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence is going to get his share of help from the running back position whether that’s through the run or the pass. The run game especially could make life easier on him as a rookie quarterback, and with that, things could open up for him in the passing game, which will present Jacksonville with the chance to keep teams off-balance.