When looking at their roster on paper, the Jacksonville Jaguars should be an improved team after all of the additions they made through free agency and the NFL Draft. However, they also will be getting some key contributors back from last season’s roster who were lost at some point in the 2021 season due to injuries.
The two most notable names are running backs Travis Etienne and James Robinson. The former sustained a season-ending foot injury Week 2 of the preseason, while the latter suffered an Achilles tear in December against the New York Jets.
New coach Doug Pederson was asked about both Friday and said Etienne was participating in the offseason program, while Robinson’s status is about the same in terms of returning around training camp.
“Travis [Etienne Jr.] is doing extremely well,” Pederson said. “He’s been in our offseason program and working every day and feeling good. Again, it’s a process and we’re going to continue to monitor that and keep it slow. James [Robinson] is progressing well. 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.”
These comments from Pederson confirm what fans were speculating with Etienne, who has been seen on the field in the Jags’ offseason workout videos. It makes sense that he would be working out with his teammates at some capacity after saying he was around 80-85% in February.
The Jags’ offense undoubtedly has a chance to be more productive than it was last year if they can have Etienne and Robinson ready to take the field as a pair for the regular season. However, the draft selection of Snoop Conner in the fifth round gives Etienne a similar bruiser to be paired with if Robinson isn’t ready, and that’s a good luxury to have for the Jags’ backfield.
Pederson also had an update for one of the Jags’ top weapons on offense and special teams in Jamal Agnew, who sustained a season-ending hip injury in November.
“Jamal [Agnew] is, again, he’s another one in that same kind of boat with James,” Pederson said. “I think he’s probably a little bit more ahead right now, but again, we’re going to be real cautious with both those guys, really all three of those guys as we head into the season.”
Agnew provided an update on his injury back in April when appearing on the “Jag Roar” Podcast. He said that he had been working on strengthening things around the hip, but didn’t dislocate anything, although there was some ligament damage.
Another notable Pederson mentioned was safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who sustained a broken ankle in the Jags’ last game against Houston in December. Pederson said that the veteran was “doing well” and that he too was in the offseason program like Etienne.
With the Jags looking to start camp on July 24 (which is over two months away), there should be more updates provided in the coming months to once again monitor the progress of Agnew and Robinson before camp starts.