​As training camp draws nearer for the Jacksonville Jaguars, we typically assemble a 53-man roster projection based on discoveries from the offseason programs. We’ll keep that approach, but the format is shifting. Instead of packing every position group into a single piece, we’ll dedicate an entire article to each unit before delivering our overall predictions at the end.
Next up: the running backs. The group currently includes Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, LeQuint Allen, DeeJay Dallas, Ameer Abdullah, and J’Mari Taylor. It feels almost presumptive to place what appears to be the full backfield in the lock category, but that’s where the projections appear to land. Tuten is the favorite to be RB1, with Rodriguez also expected to log steady work out of the backfield. Allen has proven extremely valuable on passing downs, particularly in pass protection, and he has also contributed on special teams. All three primary backs are likely to be part of what could become a relatively heavy rotation this season.
The central question for determining the 53-man roster at this position is whether the Jaguars keep three or four running backs. Most teams carry three RBs, and that seems like a reasonable expectation for Jacksonville this season. However, last year the Jaguars carried a fourth running back for a significant portion of the year, which suggests there could be room for a similar arrangement again. Could one of Dallas, Abdullah, or Taylor rise to the occasion this summer and force GM James Gladstone to keep an extra back?
Until we observe more from DeeJay Dallas, Abdullah, and J’Mari Taylor during camp and the preseason, the prediction leans toward three running backs for now. Keeping four would necessitate cutting depth elsewhere, and as last season showed, a fourth RB on the roster is not guaranteed to be active on Sundays. In practice, that fourth back is more likely to be inactive on game days. So, in short, it seems the roster spot could be better allocated to another position group.
This piece was originally published on Jaguars Wire as part of pre-training camp 53-man roster predictions. It focuses on the running back position and aims to provide a thorough, SEO-friendly look at how the Jaguars might structure their backfield heading into the season, with the expectation of a comprehensive evaluation across all units in subsequent installments.