Head coach Liam Coen emphatically shut down the possibility that the Jacksonville Jaguars are considering trading Travis Etienne. That should allow the fifth-year running back to get ready for what figures to be a pivotal season in his NFL career. But despite all the noise, he doesn't appear to be concerned.
Etienne met with the local media after Day 7 of OTAs and said that he's not paying much attention to the outside noise, noting that he's focused on what he can control.
"I'll just focus on what I control. I mean, outside noise popping up," Etienne responded when asked if he's paid attention to the trade chatter this offseason. "I feel like me worrying about that. I feel like I can't change, none of that, honestly. So I feel like it's just a waste of my energy to even worry about that. I was just coming here and just do my job and let things go where they go. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I'm always ready and just come in here and just do my job."
Later in the exchange, the former Clemson Tiger told the press corps that he doesn't have to prove anything to anybody but himself.
"Honestly, no, I feel like I just got to cut to come in and prove myself. Right, you know, just be who I am, be who I have always been, and things work out for me," Etienne said.
Following Tank Bisgby's ascension in 2024, Etienne became the subject of trade chatter. The fact that he's coming off an underwhelming season didn't help matters, and the noise only increased when the Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen this past April.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN then fanned the flames when he reported after the draft that the new Jacksonville regime wasn't fully sold on Etienne and Bigsby. Having said that, Coen said that Etienne has been pleased with Etienne, going as far as saying that he trade chatter is nonsense.
Travis Etienne could rebound for the Jaguars in 2025
If you take Liam Coen at his word, Travis Etienne remains part of the team's plans, at least short term, and it's easy to see why. The Jacksonville Jaguars may want to hold on to him if Bhayshul Tuten is off to a slow start to his rookie career, or if Tank Bigsby fails to build off of his promising 2024 campaign.
On top of that, Etienne gives the Jags enviable depth at running back. Then again, he could be more than that. After all, he's no slouch, having posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before struggling in 2024. In fact, the former Clemson Tiger might've been his productive self if he hadn't suffered a shoulder injury and hadn't run behind a porous offensive line.
Etienne is now healthy, and the offensive line is in much better shape. That will give him a chance to prove that he's still the same running back that he was when Jacksonville made the playoffs in 2022.
Of course, a team in need of help at running back could eventually make the Jaguars an offer they can't refuse. But for the time being, Travis Etienne isn't going anywhere and is focused on being the best player he can be.
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