Travis Etienne Jr. – Syndication Server

Etienne, Bigsby ‘real healthy’ as Jaguars look to spark run game

One of Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson’s takeaways from assessing the 2-9 Jaguars during their bye week was that the team needs to get its rushing attack going again.

The Jaguars averaged the second-most yards per rushing attempt, 5.7, in the NFL through Week 4. Their 126.3 rushing yards per game stood at a respectable No. 13.

But starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4, and eventually dealt with a hamstring injury that limited his usage through Week 9.

Etienne’s rushing counterpart, Tank Bigsby, appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report with a hurt ankle in Week 9. He aggravated the injury in Week 10 and did not play in Week 11.

Both Etienne and Bigsby are beyond their injuries following Jacksonville’s bye week, Pederson said Friday, offering the head coach encouragement as he attempts to reignite the Jaguars’ ground game.

“Both guys are real healthy, which is great,” Pederson said Friday.

“There was some — the inconsistency of one guy up and one guy banged up and then kind of flipped and just getting that continuity in that room. But it’s good to have both guys where they are right now. It does give us a lift health-wise in that room and obviously can give us a boost in the run game.”

As a result of Etienne and Bigsby’s limitations, at least in part, the Jaguars now rank No. 11 and No. 25 in the above categories, respectively. They have averaged 4.5 yards per run and 101.6 rushing yards per game through 11 games.

However, Pederson believes it will take more than a healthy running back room to spark Jacksonville’s rushing offense. He pointed to the Jaguars’ need for better blocking at every position and for their quarterback, likely Trevor Lawrence this week, to audible the unit into potentially advantageous run plays.

“That’s something that we have to do better as an offense. We have to run the ball better,” Pederson said Wednesday.

“It’s not just the running backs, it’s all 11 [players], right? It’s the quarterback putting us in the right run if we have run checks. It’s obviously the offensive line, the tight ends, and we know the running backs. So that’s an area that we’ve got to improve, but having two healthy running backs right now definitely helps that.”

Jacksonville will face an average Houston rushing defense on Sunday. The Texans allow 110.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 11 in the NFL, and 4.4 yards per carry, ranking No. 20.

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Inactive lists

Jacksonville and Philadelphia each made a pair of starters, one on offense and the other on defense, inactive for the Jaguars and Eagles’ Week 9 matchup on Sunday.

Not included on Jacksonville’s inactive list were running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and right guard Brandon Scherff. Each player entered the weekend questionable but has been cleared to play against Philadelphia.

Find Jacksonville and Philadelphia’s inactive lists below.

Jaguars inactives

WR Gabe Davis
OL Ezra Cleveland
OL Javon Foster
DT Maason Smith
DT Esezi Otomewo

Analysis: The Jaguars officially ruled starting wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) out against the Eagles by making him inactive Sunday. He entered the matchup questionable.

Starting left guard Ezra Cleveland (knee) and rookie defensive tackle Maason Smith (ankle) were ruled out Friday. Rookie offensive lineman Javon Foster and defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo are healthy scratches.

Eagles inactives

QB Tanner McKee
TE Dallas Goedert
OL Darian Kinnard
OL Trevor Keegan
CB Darius Slay
S Tristin McCollum

Analysis: The Eagles previously ruled starters, tight end Dallas Goedert and cornerback Darius Slay, out of Week 9 on Friday. Philadelphia’s inactive list otherwise consists of healthy scratches.

Report: Trio of Jaguars offensive weapons ‘likely’ to play vs. Eagles

Barring any setbacks, the Jaguars expect to have running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (ankle) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) available for Jacksonville’s Week 9 matchup against the Eagles in Philadelphia, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport called each player ‘likely’ to play Sunday, and added that wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) “appears to be more of a long-shot.”

Bigsby, Thomas and Davis each suffered injuries in Jacksonville’s 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers at home last week, while Etienne missed Weeks 7-8 after hurting his hamstring in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.

Bigsby leads the Jaguars with 493 yards and four touchdowns rushing over 85 attempts this season, with Etienne having compiled 230 yards and two touchdowns over 56 carries.

Thomas, the Jaguars’ first-round rookie sensation, paces Jacksonville with 33 receptions for 573 yards and five touchdowns this year. Davis, who has battled shoulder and knee injuries throughout the campaign, has logged 18 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Jaguars injury updates: Will Tank Bigsby, and Travis Etienne Jr. play vs. Eagles in Week 9?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to have Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr., and Gabe Davis available for the Week 9 game at the Eagles

The Jaguars (2-6) are in Philadelphia for another Doug Pederson homecoming, and they’ll have critical reinforcements available on offense for the matchup against the Eagles (5-2) on Sunday.

Jacksonville running backs Tank Bigsby (ankle) and Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) are both likely to play today, barring a setback, Ian Rapoport reports.

#Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) and RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) are both likely to play today, barring a setback, sources say.

It’s the same for WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), though Gabe Davis (shoulder) appears to be more of a long-shot.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2024

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) will be a game-time decision, while veteran passes catcher Gabe Davis (shoulder) is more of a long shot.

The Jaguars lost to the Green Bay Packers, 30-27, at EverBank Stadium this past Sunday. Jacksonville sustained many injuries, including a season-ending collarbone injury to veteran wide receiver and leader Christian Kirk.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Final injury reports, game statuses

Find Jacksonville and Philadelphia’s final injury reports and game statuses for Week 9 below.

Jaguars injury report

RB Keilan Robinson^ (toe) — full
CB Ronald Darby (hip) — full
RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — limited
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) — limited
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) — limited
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
OG Brandon Scherff (knee) — limited*
DT Maason Smith (ankle) — limited
S Andrew Wingard^ (knee) — limited
WR Christian Kirk (collarbone) — did not practice
OG Ezra Cleveland (ankle) — did not practice

Jaguars game statuses

RB Travis Etienne Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
RB Tank Bigsby: QUESTIONABLE
RB Keilan Robinson: QUESTIONABLE
WR Brian Thomas Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
WR Gabe Davis: QUESTIONABLE
OL Brandon Scherff: QUESTIONABLE
S Andrew Wingard: QUESTIONABLE
WR Christian Kirk: OUT
OL Ezra Cleveland: OUT
DT Maason Smith: OUT

Analysis: The Jaguars enter their Week 9 matchup with the Eagles bruised and battered.

Starters, wide receiver Christian Kirk and left guard Ezra Cleveland, and backup defensive tackle, rookie Maason Smith, were officially ruled out Friday, although Kirk was previously ruled out for the season with a broken collarbone by Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday.

Pederson called Jacksonville starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring), wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder), and right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) game-time decisions against Philadelphia on Friday.

Additionally, running back Keilan Robinson and safety Andrew Wingard, who are both designated to return from the injured reserve but have not yet been activated, enter the weekend questionable.

Eagles injury report

TE Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen) — full
OT Mekhi Becton (concussion) — full
OG Landon Dickerson (knee) — full*
DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) — full
TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) — did not practice
CB Darius Slay (groin) — did not practice

Eagles game statuses

TE Dallas Goedert: OUT
CB Darius Slay: OUT

Analysis: The Eagles will be without two starters on Sunday, tight end Dallas Goedert and cornerback. Neither player practiced during the week.

While they were full participants Friday, left guard Landon Dickerson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter did not practice Wednesday but saw their statuses upgrade throughout the week. Offensive tackle Mekhi Becton began the week limited in practice and ended as a full participant.

Jaguars vs. Eagles: Initial injury reports; Thomas, Bigsby updates

Find Jacksonville and Philadelphia’s initial injury reports for Week 9 below.

^ indicates player is designated to return from injured reserve

Jaguars injury report

RB Keilan Robinson^ (toe) — full
CB Ronald Darby (hip) — full
RB Tank Bigsby (ankle) — limited
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) — limited
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) — limited
WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) — limited
DT Maason Smith (ankle) — limited
S Andrew Wingard^ (knee) — limited
WR Christian Kirk (collarbone) — did not practice
OG Brandon Scherff (knee) — did not practice
OG Ezra Cleveland (ankle) — did not practice

Analysis: Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson called starting wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, and starting guards Brandon Scherff and Ezra Cleveland “day-to-day” on Wednesday as they recover from injuries suffered against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Starting slot receiver Christian Kirk will miss the rest of the season after breaking his collarbone against the Packers. He is expected to transition to the injured reserve.

Pederson said Wednesday that the Jaguars “should get” starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. back this week after he missed their last two games with a hamstring injury, but noted the team will observe how Etienne feels in practice.

Tank Bigsby, who has operated as Jacksonville’s No. 1 running back with Etienne absent, was added to the report with an ankle injury that limited him in Wednesday’s practice.

Eagles injury report

TE Albert Okwuegbunam (abdomen) — full
OT Mekhi Becton (concussion) — limited
TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) — did not practice
OG Landon Dickerson (knee) — did not practice
DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) — did not practice
CB Darius Slay (groin) — did not practice

Analysis: Philadelphia’s injury report includes four starters who did not practice Wednesday.

Tight end Dallas Goedert missed the Eagles’ last two games with a hamstring injury, Left guard Landon Dickerson and defensive tackle Jalen Carter popped up on the report for the first time Wednesday. Cornerback Darius Slay suffered a groin injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.

Pederson issues ‘day-to-day’ tags for handful of Jaguars injuries

The Jaguars are banged up ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. They are navigating injuries to six starters suffered in Jacksonville’s Sunday loss to the Green Bay Packers, to pair with starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) missing the team’s last two games.

Cornerback Ronald Darby (hip), wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder), and offensive guards Brandon Scherff (knee) and Ezra Cleveland (ankle) evaded long-term injury in Week 8.

However, most of the group enters Week 9 “day-to-day,” per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

“Darby’s good, Darby will be out there. [Thomas], we’ve just got to wait and see. He’s going to be day-to-day. Gabe’s going to be day-to-day. [Scherff is] day-to-day. Ezra, day-to-day, ankle. We’ll see how he is at the end of the week,” Pederson said.

The sixth starter to go down against the Packers, wide receiver Christian Kirk, suffered a season-ending broken collarbone, which was reported late Sunday.

Pederson suggested Etienne, who the head coach considered a game-time decision for each of Jacksonville’s last two games, is inching closer to returning to play this week.

“Yeah, should get him back,” Pederson said. “Looking forward to getting him out there and getting some reps, see how he feels.”

As Jacksonville kicks off its week of practice before facing Philadelphia, Pederson said the Jaguars are leaning on the development of their roster depth this past offseason as they manage their battered lineup.

“Next man up. I mean honestly, it’s easy as that,” Pederson said. “You know, the games are still going to come and the league is still going to continue on, and we’re going to continue on.

“We’ve got to coach. That’s why we develop guys in the offseason, you know, for opportunities like this. So, whether it’s a young player, a rookie, a vet or a practice squad elevation, we’re going to continue to coach everybody and get them prepared for each week.”

Jaguars vs. Packers: Inactive lists

The Jaguars and Packers will each be without a starter for their Week 8 matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Find Jacksonville and Green Bay’s inactive lists for the contest below.

Jaguars inactives

RB Travis Etienne Jr.
OL Javon Foster
OL Cole Van Lanen
DE Myles Cole
DT Maason Smith
DT Esezi Otomewo

Analysis: Jaguars starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. will miss his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. Etienne has rushed 56 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns and added 16 receptions for 91 yards in six games this season.

Packers inactives

OT Andre Dillard
OT Travis Glover
DL Brenton Cox Jr.
LB Quay Walker
CB Corey Ballentine
S Kitan Oladapo

Analysis: Green Bay will be without one defensive starter against Jacksonville, linebacker Quay Walker, who finished the week as a limited participant in practice due to a concussion. Walker has 52 total tackles including four for loss and 1.5 sacks this year.

Jaguars vs. Packers: Final injury reports, game statuses

The Jaguars and Packers carry 10 combined game designations into their Week 8 matchup in Jacksonville, including nine questionable players and one on Green Bay’s side doubtful.

Find Jacksonville and Green Bay’s final injury reports and Friday game statuses for Week 8 below.

* indicates upgraded status from the previous practice

^ indicates player is designated to return from injured reserve

Jaguars injury report

TE Evan Engram (hamstring) — full
DE Arik Armstead (shoulder) — full*
RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) — limited
WR Gabe Davis (knee) — limited
OT Cam Robinson (concussion) — limited
DT Esezi Otomewo (calf) — limited
LB Foyesade Oluokun^ (foot) — limited
S Andrew Wingard^ (knee) — limited
DT Maason Smith (ankle) — did not participate

Jaguars game statuses

RB Travis Etienne Jr.: QUESTIONABLE
OL Cam Robinson: QUESTIONABLE
DT Maason Smith: QUESTIONABLE
DT Esezi Otomewo: QUESTIONABLE
LB Foyesade Oluokun: QUESTIONABLE
S Andrew Wingard: QUESTIONABLE

Analysis: Rookie defensive lineman Maason Smith was added to Jacksonville’s injury report Friday, making his status the only true surprise from this group. Left tackle Cam Robinson is questionable, as expected, as he has not yet cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Jacksonville faces decisions on whether to activate linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard ahead of Sunday’s matchup, hence their questionable statuses. The Jaguars’ roster currently stands at 51 players, giving them the room to make such moves.

Packers injury report

WR Christian Watson (ankle) — full*
WR Jayden Reed (ankle) — full*
DL Kenny Clark (toe) — full*
DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle) — full
DL Colby Wooden (knee) — full
CB Jaire Alexander (groin) — full*
CB Keisean Nixon (hamstring) — full*
OL Elgton Jenkins (glute) — limited
OL Josh Myers (wrist) — limited
LB Quay Walker (concussion) — limited
CB Corey Ballentine (ankle) — did not participate

Packers game statuses

OL Josh Myers: QUESTIONABLE
DL Devonte Wyatt: QUESTIONABLE
LB Quay Walker: QUESTIONABLE
CB Corey Ballentine: DOUBTFUL

Analysis: Center Josh Myers, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and linebacker Quay Walker, all starters, enter the matchup questionable, with backup cornerback Corey Ballentine unlikely to play.

Ballentine’s status would be more significant if starting Packers corners, Jaire Alexander and Keiseann Nixon, carried statuses into the game. But both players were upgraded from limited to full practice participants Friday, a sign they are good to go.

Doug Pederson updates three Jaguars key starters before facing Packers

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed that Jacksonville starting left tackle, Cam Robinson, cleared the NFL concussion protocol on Friday and will be able to practice with the team in its final session before facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

“Cam right now I can announce that he’s cleared the protocol. He’ll be out there at practice today,” Pederson said. “We’ll see where he’s at but hopefully he’s good. We have to finish him up in contact and stuff but he can actually be in practice today, so that’s a good thing.”

Robinson, Jacksonville’s starting left tackle since 2017, did not practice on Wednesday and was listed as a limited participant Thursday, while in the concussion protocol. He was observed wearing a non-contact jersey during the team’s second practice of the week by Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union.

Robinson suffered his concussion early in Jacksonville’s 32-16 victory over the New England Patriots in London last Sunday, leading fourth-year Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little to take over at left tackle. Little would start at the spot if Robinson were unable to play against Green Bay.

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. missed Week 7 with a hamstring injury and has been limited in practice leading up to their matchup with the Packers. Like last week, Pederson suggested Etienne’s status would likely be determined on game day.

“Etienne again, we’ll still push him today and see where he’s at physically before we make a decision,” Pederson shared. “[It will] probably be game time with him.”

Etienne has rushed 56 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 91 yards in six games.

Jacksonville linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, who is currently designated to return from the injured reserve, is trending toward being activated and returning to play this weekend, per Pederson. Oluokun landed on the reserve after suffering a foot injury in Week 3.

“Foye had a really good week. Trending in the right direction. You know, optimistic that he’ll be able to step in and play,” said Pederson. “We’ll see where he’s at today, tomorrow.”

Pederson added that the Jaguars will monitor Oluokun’s injury, plantar fasciitis, beyond his activation from the reserve.

“Probably so. We’ll keep an eye on him and he’ll get treatment on it and all that,” Pederson acknowledged. “He’s in a good spot, though. But yeah, we’ll probably have to manage it a little bit.”