When the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to keep four running backs on their roster, they may have been hinting that one of them wouldn't be sticking around.
Now, new Jaguars general manager James "Gotta get them draft picks" Gladstone finally showed his hand by shipping 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks. It was a shocking move for some, though it wasn’t so much about giving up on Bigsby’s talent—it was about how quickly Tuten seized his opportunity and forced the team’s hand.
Despite the noise, it was quickly clear who the Jaguars believed was their RB1—Travis Etienne Jr. racked up 156 scrimmage yards on 16 carries and three receptions, capping it all with a 71-yarder in a Week 1 beatdown of the Carolina Panthers.
While rookie Bhayshul Tuten had a sparse week 1, he turned heads in camp and made the most of every preseason rep. Jacksonville's leadership believes he can be a game-changer once he adapts to the higher speed of the NFL.
Bhayshul Tuten RB1 szn loading https://t.co/eeJZAGxQcy pic.twitter.com/uCEFebXEFA
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 9, 2025
Related:Jaguars just made stance on Travis Etienne crystal clear with Tank Bigsby trade
Tuten stands out during Jaguars training camp and preseason
Just two weeks ago, it certainly seemed that new head coach Liam Coen didn't know how the Jaguars' running back room would pan out. "We're still in the thick of it," he said (5:30 mark). "We've seen great things from all four of those guys...knowing it's going to be darn near impossible to have four with a jersey on game day. That's the challenge we have to work through over the next few weeks."
It seemed that rookie Bhayshul Tuten made that challenge a little bit easier. His stat line in the preseason may not have been incredible—16 rushes for 59 yards and two scores—but his physicality was on full display in his touchdown run against the Steelers.
BHAYSHUL TUTEN DID NOT GIVE UP ON THE PLAY 😤
He powers his way in for the TD
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/sQ5iIMUSLh
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
Bhayshul Tuten could "come out of nowhere" this year and put up stellar numbers
The Jaguars aren't the only ones all in Bhayshul Tuten. ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks the Virginia Tech alum will come out of nowhere this season. "Tuten is the most explosive of the [Jaguars' running back] group," he said. "[He's] a 'home run hitter' in the Jaguars' eyes. If he's able to pick up the offense and acclimate to the NFL quickly, that explosiveness could lead to greater opportunities sooner rather than later."
And that's exactly what the Jaguars drafted him for—his explosiveness. He ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, which clocked in fastest among RBs and sixth-fastest overall. Right after the draft, Coen praised him, saying, "He can get to the second or third level and score from anywhere on the field." Now, with Bigsby off to the Eagles, it looks more likely that he'll get his chance.
Related:Biggest Jaguars winners and losers of the head-turning Tank Bigsby trade
Final thoughts
A four-player running back room isn't a wild thought, but as Bhayshul Tuten demonstrated his physicality—that "intangibly rich" quality that Gladstone preached all offseason—the Jaguars had a decision to make. They chose to place their trust in the rookie and stock up on draft picks at the same time.
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