Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace (32) and linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) tackle Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) fumbles the ball as New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) makes the recovery in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Jaguars welcome increased workload for rookies Tuten and Allen following Bigsby trade
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) 鈥 Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. got a flashback when he heard teammate Tank Bigsby was traded to Philadelphia on Monday.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace (32) and linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) tackle Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) 鈥 Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. got a flashback when he heard teammate Tank Bigsby was traded to Philadelphia on Monday.
Etienne immediately recalled James Robinson being dealt to the New York Jets in the middle of the 2022 season. That trade came days after Etienne rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown, the first 100-yard game of his career.
This one came after Etienne ran for 143 yards against Carolina in the season opener.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淛ust the nature of the NFL, just the business, for real,鈥 Etienne said Wednesday. 鈥淚t could have been any one of us. 鈥 I don鈥檛 know if anything stuns you anymore. You just kind of expect the unexpected at this point and you got to roll with it.鈥
Jaguars players didn’t want to see Bigsby go, but they realize it means an increased workload for Etienne as well as talented rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr.
Bigsby appeared miserable for weeks, maybe even months. He seemed to know he would have a reduced role this season following the addition of Tuten (fourth round) and Allen (seventh round). And when the third-year pro got just five carries against the Panthers, he chose not to celebrate with teammates on the field and was the first player to make his way into the locker room.
The Jaguars traded him the following day, sending him to the Eagles in exchange for fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2026.
Etienne will continue to be the primary ball-carrier, with Tuten getting more work and Allen serving as the third-down back.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of crazy,鈥 Tuten said. 鈥淥bviously, it doesn鈥檛 happen like that in college. It鈥檚 definitely eye-opening, but I see how it is here. We鈥檝e just got to keep working. He鈥檒l do his thing wherever he goes.鈥
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Bigsby was a third-round pick from Auburn in 2023. He had 910 yards rushing and nine touchdowns in two-plus seasons with Jacksonville. But he struggled to catch ball out of the backfield and to pick up blitzes.
鈥淚t really just came down to, after some time of evaluating and working through some things, just felt like, especially post-Sunday, probably best to move on,鈥 first-year Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. 鈥淲e feel good about where we鈥檙e at moving forward. I wish him nothing but the best.鈥
Bigsby is the fourth Jaguars player traded since Coen and general manager James Gladstone took over, following receiver Christian Kirk, center Luke Fortner and offensive lineman Fred Johnson.
鈥淭hings like that that鈥檚 the hardest part of this business, this sport,鈥 Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss Tank. 鈥 But you look at the guys that we have, and they鈥檝e definitely earned the opportunity.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation