Liam Coen Says Jaguars 'Will Never be Able to Replace' Etienne

One of the biggest questions facing the Jacksonville Jaguars this season is how they will be able to replace running back Travis Etienne Jr. Etienne had a great season in 2025 and was a big reason for the Jaguars winning 13 games. In his fifth season with Jacksonville, Etienne rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored 13 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. He cashed in on his bounce-back year with a four-year contract from the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Jacksonville is rolling with the duo of Bhayshul Tuten and its own free agent signing, Chris Rodriguez Jr., to fill the void left by Etienne. Tuten has looked great all offseason, flashing star potential. Rodriguez, who was sidelined with an injury during OTAs and minicamp, has been impressive since his return to practice at training camp. The bruiser has made the battle for RB1 a real competition, with the Jaguars still not naming a starter on the team's first depth chart. With the Jaguars having two days of joint practices with Etienne and the Saints as the teams prepare to open the preseason against each other on Saturday, Jacksonville's head coach, Liam Coen, spoke about Etienne and how the team will be able to replace him. For Coen, the answer is simple. He told reporters, as shared by Action Sports Jax, that the Jaguars won't be able to replace Etienne. “We’ll never be able to replace what he was able to do for us, whether it was last year or what he’s done in Jacksonville throughout the course of his career," Coen admitted. Etienne came to Jacksonville in 2021 after the Jaguars used their second first-round pick on him, reuniting the running back with his Clemson teammate, Trevor Lawrence, who was selected first overall. A serious Lisfranc injury suffered during the preseason cost Etienne his entire rookie year. In the four seasons since, Etienne has rushed for 3,798 yards, with three 1,000-yard seasons and 25 touchdowns. He has added 1,338 receiving yards and 13 more scores through the air, including six in 2025. Is Coen Right? Coen certainly thinks highly of Etienne and is happy to see him earn a big payday from his hometown team. But is he right about not being able to replace Etienne on the field? The Jaguars' decision to go with a combination of Tuten and Rodriguez at running back has been criticized all offseason. The offense was sixth in the league in scoring last season, at 27.9 points per game. Many believe that, without Etienne, Jacksonville's offense will take a step back this season. Despite the offense's success, the Jaguars finished 20th in the NFL last season with 115.1 rushing yards per game and averaged only a modest 4.0 yards per carry. They also did not fare well in rushing success rate in 2025, even during their 8-game winning streak to end the season. Even with Etienne having a successful campaign, the Jaguars' running game has a lot of room to improve in 2026. Tuten, though he didn't show it much last year, is an explosive runner with breakaway speed. Rodriguez brings a power element to Jacksonville's backfield that the team has been lacking. The duo of Tuten and Rodriguez, combined with second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr.'s receiving threat, should be able to replace Etienne's production this season. Final Thoughts Coen and the Jaguars' players are clearly happy to have a chance to catch up with their former teammate, and are happy he has found a new home in New Orleans. Etienne brought a lot to Jacksonville during his time with the Jaguars, and he was a big part of the team's resurgence last season. However, Jacksonville's current stable of RBs all bring different skills to the table and should be able to form a successful backfield. That takes nothing away from what Etienne accomplished during his time with the team, and he will be remembered as an important player in the Jaguars' history.