Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack said Bigsby's offseason priority has been to "refocus," and that "now things are starting to slow down for him" entering Year 2, Juston Lewis of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union reports. Coach Doug Pederson said back in May that the team hopes for Bigsby to spell starter Travis Etienne more often during the 2024 season, but for that to happen the 2023 third-round pick will need to improve upon his lackluster rookie performance. Last season, Bigsby logged just 50 carries for 132 yards (2.6 YPC) and two touchdowns across 17 games. Mack noted that as a rookie "everything was extremely fast for [Bigsby]," but said that this offseason "he's understanding the ins and outs of the offense a lot better." D'Ernest Johnson and rookie fifth-round pick Keilan Robinson could offer competition for the No. 2 role, but if Bigsby can indeed improve entering the 2024 campaign and retain a complementary role behind Etienne, he could provide value as a post-hype sleeper in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.
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Jaguars running backs coach Jerry Mack said Bigsby's offseason priority has been to "refocus," and that "now things are starting to slow down for him" entering Year 2, Juston Lewis of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union reports. Coach Doug Pederson said back in May that the team hopes for Bigsby to spell starter Travis Etienne more often during the 2024 season, but for that to happen the 2023 third-round pick will need to improve upon his lackluster rookie performance. Last season, Bigsby logged just 50 carries for 132 yards (2.6 YPC) and two touchdowns across 17 games. Mack noted that as a rookie "everything was extremely fast for [Bigsby]," but said that this offseason "he's understanding the ins and outs of the offense a lot better." D'Ernest Johnson and rookie fifth-round pick Keilan Robinson could offer competition for the No. 2 role, but if Bigsby can indeed improve entering the 2024 campaign and retain a complementary role behind Etienne, he could provide value as a post-hype sleeper in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.
Coach Doug Pederson said last week that he'd like Bigsby to get more playing time to "take some of the pounding off of Travis [Etienne]," Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports. Jaguars brass made similar comments last offseason after drafting Bigsby in the third round, but he had just three games all season with more than three carries and none with more than 17 snaps. A pair of lost fumbles on his first 24 touches didn't help, and the Jags eventually preferred D'Ernest Johnson as the running back to give Etienne occasional breathers. While Johnson is back with the team this year, Bigsby's combination of draft capital, college production (2,903 rushing yards) and size (6-0, 213) should allow him another shot to win the No. 2 RB role. Whether the Jaguars actually end up trusting him enough to take a significant chunk out of Etienne's workload is another question.
The rookie third-round pick played a season-low two offensive snaps and now appears to be clearly behind D'Ernest Johnson on the backfield depth chart. Bigsby has 36 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns through his first 11 NFL games, but he's unlikely to see many opportunities down the stretch if Johnson and starter Travis Etienne stay healthy.
Jacksonville was in control throughout Sunday's contest, which allowed Bigsby to set a season high in carries. The 22-year-old also set a season high in rushing yards, though it wasn't an efficient performance. D'Ernest Johnson had a similar workload with more yardage for the second straight week, and Bigsby could be losing his grip on the No. 2 job in Jacksonville's backfield.
Starter Travis Etienne had a season-low 11 touches in the blowout, but the lopsided score didn't benefit Bigsby much, as he played just 10 offensive snaps. No. 3 back D'Ernest Johnson had a similar snap count but turned five touches into 40 yards, which eclipses Bigsby's total scrimmage yards from the past five games combined.
The 22-year-old saw six offensive snaps as starter Travis Etienne received 27 touches for 149 yards and a touchdown while playing an 89 percent snap share. Etienne continues to operate as Jacksonville's workhorse back, leaving minimal opportunities for Bigsby in the No. 2 role.