Jaguars Sign Chris Rodriguez Jr. to Replace Travis Etienne

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Jaguars found their muscle. After watching Travis Etienne head to the Big Easy, General Manager James Gladstone moved quickly to solidify the backfield, signing former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year, $10 million deal. Rodriguez isn’t a replacement in name only; he brings a violent, downhill style that the Jaguars lacked during their 2025 playoff run.

The move marks Jacksonville’s only external signing since the 2026 league year opened on March 11. Rodriguez lands in a familiar environment, reuniting with head coach Liam Coen. The two previously paired up at Kentucky in 2021, where Rodriguez exploded for 1,379 yards and 9 touchdowns. Gladstone didn’t stutter when describing the fit, noting that Rodriguez’s “superpower” is his ability to find lanes and punish defenders at the point of attack.

A Sledgehammer in the Backfield

Rodriguez is coming off a productive 2025 campaign where he notched 500 yards and 6 touchdowns despite starting only seven games. He doesn’t dance in the hole. Last season, he ranked eighth in the league in average yards after contact at 3.46. That grit matters for a Jaguars offense that is shifting its identity under Coen’s second-year leadership. The analytics back up the eye test, too. Rodriguez finished fourth in the NFL with a 58% success rate, proving he keeps the chains moving when the game gets tight.

He joins a room that suddenly looks young and explosive. While Bhayshul Tuten is expected to take the lead as RB1 following a standout rookie year, Rodriguez provides the veteran stability and short-yardage reliability the team lost when Etienne signed with the Saints. LeQuint Allen remains in the mix as a third-down specialist, creating a three-headed monster that Coen can deploy with surgical precision. The humidity in Jacksonville was already rising as Rodriguez met with the media via Zoom, his excitement palpable even through a screen.

“Before I even touched down in Virginia, my agent called and said we had a deal. I told him, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ I’ve known Liam since college, and even though we only had a year together at Kentucky, it felt like a lifetime. He wants everyone to shine, and I’m ready to be the vet these young guys can lean on.”
— Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars RB

Playoff Implications and Strategy

This signing is as much about the 2027 draft as it is about the 2026 season. By targeting Rodriguez as a non-tendered restricted free agent, the Jaguars ensured he won’t count against the compensatory pick formula. This allows Gladstone to hoard picks while still filling a massive hole left by Etienne and the departure of linebacker Devin Lloyd to the Panthers.

Expect the Jaguars to lean heavily on this “blue-collar” backfield as they prepare for a 2026 schedule that includes two games in London and the start of major stadium renovations. With Travon Walker moving permanently to defensive tackle, the team is building through the trenches and the ground game. Rodriguez provides the “closer” mentality needed to salt away games in the fourth quarter, a role that was often vacant last year. The Jaguars aren’t just looking for speed anymore; they’re looking for someone who can finish the fight.