Jaguar Report

Travis Etienne’s 2022 Comeback and Ascension: A Year in Review

Travis Etienne’s journey from IR to RB1 isn’t surprising. The extent of his dominance however proved to be even greater than the Jaguars anticipated.

Ryan Michael

When Travis Etienne was drafted 25th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, reaction in Duval was mixed.

Fan-favorite James Robinson was coming off a season producing 1,414 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns in only 14 games and depth at running back doesn’t impact the development of rookie (or veteran) quarterbacks the way depth at wide receiver does.

When Etienne suffered a devastating Lisfranc injury in a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, his rookie season ended before it ever got started and the draft selection appeared to be another one of many bad investments made under the Trent Baalke regime.

The suffering wasn’t over. Head Coach Urban Meyer was let go after 13 games and the team finished the 2021 season with a 3-14 record.

What a difference a year made.

Baalke was aggressive in free agency, partially righting the wrongs of 2021 by signing Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram. On November 1st 2022, the Jaguars traded a conditional 2023 sixth round pick and a 2024 fourth round pick in exchange for then-suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

As Trevor Lawrence’s aerial targets began to take form and produce results on the field, Etienne’s production saw him shoot up the depth chart and become one of the most dynamic play-makers of 2022.

Etienne finished the regular season with 1,441 yards from scrimmage and 5 rushing touchdowns. In the postseason, his 121 yards from scrimmage vs. the Chargers helped lead a historic 27-point comeback—the largest comeback in NFL history for a team that didn’t produce a turnover on defenses.

The following week vs. the Chiefs, Etienne averaged 6.2 yards per carry, produced 80 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown as the Jaguars lost narrowly to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, 27-20.

There have been 15 single-seasons in Jaguars franchise history of 1,000+ rushing yards (regular season and postseason combined). Amongst those 15, Etienne’s 2022 ranks No. 1 in yards-per-carry (5.2).

1. Travis Etienne, 5.2 (1,296 in 2022)

2. Fred Taylor, 5.1 (1,297 in 2007)

3. Fred Taylor, 5.0 (1,146 in 2006)

4. Fred Taylor, 4.8 (1,399 in 2000)

5. Maurice Jones-Drew, 4.7 (1,606 in 2011)

If last season is any indication of what’s to come, opposing defenses have been put on notice. With a full season in Doug Pederson’s system under his belt, Etienne will be a player to watch in 2023.

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Ryan Michael
RYAN MICHAEL

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