New Orleans Saints recent acquisition, RB Travis Etienne Jr., got plenty of positive press from an NFL legend.
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New Orleans Saints recent acquisition, RB Travis Etienne Jr., got plenty of positive press from an NFL legend.
When the New Orleans Saints signed running back Travis Etienne Jr., fans were justifiably excited. Not only was the organization getting a Louisiana native in the fold, but it was also landing a 1,000-yard rusher.
But that’s not all the team is getting. In fact, one Jacksonville Jaguars legend, Fred Taylor, praised the Saints RB for his skills, perseverance, and overall dedication.
In a recent interview with Hard Rock Bet, Taylor, who’s a former NFL running back himself, offered plenty of positive press for Etienne Jr.
“Etienne has shown a lot of patience and persistence. There was a lot of bad media out there questioning if he could perform, and what he did was answer all those questions.”
Etienne Jr., who was the Jaguars’ first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, laid to rest questions about his skills and ability to grow into a legit high-end NFL rusher.
That situation prompted Taylor to offer his assessment of the Saints’ free-agent signing.
“He showed speed, burst, and power. He showed that he’s an every-down back and that he’s still dangerous in the passing game as a receiver. He showed that he’s able to pick up the blitz on third downs in passing situations. So, he checked off every box that people questioned him on.”
That’s why the Saints got him. The club clearly needed a back who could carry the load more often than not.
Last season, Etienne Jr. carried the ball 260 times for 1,107 yards. But as Taylor pointed out, Etienne Jr. is not just a rusher. He’s also a receiving threat. That’s something evident in his 36 catches for 292 yards.
Put all of that together, and the Saints have themselves a major missing piece.
Etienne Jr. to Boost Saints Locker Room
While Etienne Jr.’s on-field performance speaks for itself, Taylor underscored something equally important to the Saints. Etienne Jr. is the sort of locker room presence that can help the team in other intangible ways.
“He’s a good person, even more than he is a good player, and as a teammate, you need those guys in the locker room to help create a certain culture.”
It’s those cultural fits that often go overlooked in the NFL. The Saints know that. In fact, cultural fits don’t become a noticeable issue until a player no longer fits in. When that happens, finding guys who fit in becomes a major concern.
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New Orleans Hoping Etienne Jr. Becomes Crucial Piece Moving Forward
There is no doubt that the Saints are hoping that Etienne Jr. becomes a major piece for the club moving forward. He’ll be the main piece in the ground attack, hopefully providing second-year QB Tyler Shough more support.
If Etienne Jr. can replicate his 1,000-yard season in New Orleans, Saints fans will be ecstatic to see just how much the team’s playoff chances can improve. Considering how wide-open the NFC South is, a player like Etienne Jr. could be the difference between last place and a playoff spot.
2026 could be a big year for Etienne Jr. and his new club. So, there’s plenty to be hopeful about.