Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne couldn’t wait to play his first NFL game.
The team had high hopes for the former Clemson standout after selecting him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He and Trevor Lawrence could continue their connection in college to lead the Jaguars to success.
However, he suffered a Lisfranc injury during their second preseason game, forcing him to get season-ending surgery.
Now that he is back in full health, Etienne would like to make up for lost time.
That’s why he is reorienting himself with the nuances of playing running back as shown in this video shared by Jaguars insider Mia O’Brien.
Etienne is building on his agility and reaction time as he goes through the obstacles at a football field in Dallas, Texas.
O’Brien isn’t lying when she said that Etienne’s agility is coming back as he easily jukes his way through the obstacles.
He will be difficult to stop if he can replicate those movements while breaking tackles once the season starts.
Essentially, 2022 will be his rookie season because he didn’t play last year.
However, the experience he had during his brief professional career has taught him a lot about the reality of the sport.
An Intriguing Backfield For The Jaguars
While Etienne is projected to be the starting running back, he could share snaps with James Robinson if the Jaguars would like to break him in slowly.
Robinson had a solid 2021 season for Jacksonville with 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
With Brandon Scherff and Cam Robinson on their offensive line, Robinson and Etienne might see gaps that they can burst through.
Much has been said about the Jaguars’ passing game with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
However, their run game could also help them milk the clock to keep the other team’s offense at bay.
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