![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) returns a kick off return during the first quarter in an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/158439977/2aa71b35365913e4da4fc54ec72d662d7e56c0d499d1e90bf1ba2a115c53cf6d)
Overview
- Coach Liam Coen publicly praised Tuten on Thursday during The Schrager Hour podcast and said the team is “definitely expecting” him to have a big year.
- Travis Etienne left in free agency to the New Orleans Saints, leaving a large share of carries to replace after he accounted for roughly 70% of the backfield workload last season.
- Jacksonville added Chris Rodriguez Jr. and keeps LeQuint Allen on the roster, but Rodriguez is rehabbing an offseason injury, which raises Tuten's early-season opportunity to handle lead duties.
- Tuten showed burst and scoring ability as a rookie, compiling 307 rushing yards on 83 carries with five rushing TDs, a reported 4.28 40-yard time, and a 51-yard, four-carry playoff outing, and coaches say he has worked on ball security.
- Early fantasy drafts list Tuten around RB23–RB24, and his NFL role and value will hinge on training-camp reports and Rodriguez's recovery, which could lift or lower his workload and market price.