Former Tiger Tank Bigsby likely to start for Jaguars this week

The 23-year-old has rushed for 297 yards on just 41 carries through six weeks

Former Auburn star running back Tank Bigsby’s Jacksonville Jaguars have endured a rough start to the 2024 NFL season. Head coach Doug Pederson’s Jaguars have won just a single game through six weeks of play, while injuries and effective play from star players have derailed any plans of a playoff birth for Jacksonville.

While the team has been abysmal so far this season, Bigsby himself has enjoyed a very good sophomore season after an underwhelming rookie campaign. Through six weeks, the 23-year-old has rushed for 297 yards on just 41 carries. Those numbers should both improve as soon as this Sunday, as Bigsby is all-but confirmed to receive his first NFL start with incumbent starter Travis Etienne considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury.

With the Jaguars searching for any sparks to salvage what was a season with high-expectations, Bigsby has the chance to help right the ship with a solid showing across the pond against the Patriots on Sunday. While Pederson has continuously reiterated Etienne is his “RB1”, Bigsby has shown an explosiveness and toughness the Clemson product simply has not offered the Jacksonville offense.

Tank Bigsby has rushed for a NFL-best 7.2 yards per carry thus far in 2024. If the former Tiger can sustain anywhere close to that total with a higher workload, we could see him “run away” with the starting running back job in what has become a lost season for the Jaguars. Bigsby is in line for his first professional start when Jacksonville takes on the 1-5 Patriots in London at 8:30 AM CST on Sunday.

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