{
  "id": 596125,
  "title": "Jaguars Unwilling to Name Starting RB Ahead of Preseason Opener",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/jaguars-unwilling-to-name-starting-rb-ahead-of-preseason-opener",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T19:30:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/jaguars-unwilling-to-name-starting-rb-ahead-of-preseason-opener-12310623"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Jacksonville Jaguars have a new starting running back for the upcoming season after signing Travis Etienne Jr. to a free agency deal with the New Orleans Saints. However, with the team's preseason opener approaching, they remain hesitant to announce a replacement for Etienne. On the Jaguars' preseason depth chart, both second-year rookie Bhayshul Tuten and veteran fourth-year player Chris Rodriguez are listed as the top-ranked running backs. This decision may appear unusual, especially considering Jaguars head coach Liam Coen's positive remarks about Tuten throughout the offseason. \"He does a great job of finding the end zone and his yards after contact and rushing yards, man — when he can get going and get downhill, I mean, he was 4.28 coming out. So he can fly,\" Coen remarked. \"Now it's more so, he was so conscientious about ball security last year and doing right. Okay, now Tuten, you got it. You understand it more. Now just go be you. Go do what got you here. Go be special, that's who you are. We're definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us.\" Both Tuten and Rodriguez have much to prove. As a rookie, Tuten was limited to 307 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile, Rodriguez, a sixth-round pick in 2023, has yet to secure a starting position, managing only 920 yards and 10 touchdowns in his NFL career. The Jaguars' backfield situation remains fluid, but the team's first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints could offer an early indication of which running back the team plans to start.",
  "summary": "The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to drag out their competition for starting running back.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}