​When the Jacksonville Jaguars hit the practice fields for training camp in just over two weeks, all eyes will be on the running backs. Fans will finally get a chance to see Chris Rodriguez Jr., the team’s most significant free-agent addition, in action. He is expected to be fully healthy after missing OTAs and minicamp due to a foot injury that required surgery. Rodriguez came to Jacksonville with the promise of competing with Bhayshul Tuten to emerge as the top back this season, but he has yet to contribute on the field.
Speaking of Tuten, the second-year speedster has impressed during offseason practices. Will he maintain his early momentum and continue to seize opportunities, or will Rodriguez gradually close the gap and catch up? Alongside another second-year back, LeQuint Allen Jr., the top trio in Jacksonville’s backfield appears to be taking shape. But the question remains: could any of the other RBs on the roster push hard enough in camp to persuade the Jaguars to carry a fourth tailback into the season?
During most of last season, the Jaguars carried four running backs on the 53-man roster, but Paul Bretl of Jaguars Wire isn’t convinced that this approach will repeat. He predicts the team will trim down to three running backs this year. In addition to the top trio, Jacksonville also has veteran backs Ameer Abdullah and DeeJay Dallas, as well as undrafted rookie J’Mari Taylor. Do any of these veterans have a real shot at making the final roster? Based on his current assessment, Bretl believes that the roster spot could be more effectively used elsewhere.
“Until we see more from Dallas, Abdullah, and Taylor this summer, my prediction is that the Jaguars keep three running backs. Keeping four would force Jacksonville to go lighter at another position group. And as we saw last season, having four running backs doesn’t guarantee that all four will be active on Sundays. That fourth back is more likely than not to be inactive on game days. So, in short, I think that roster spot can be better utilized elsewhere.”
While Bretl’s logic is hard to dispute, it’s certainly possible that at least one of Jacksonville’s other backs could earn a roster spot through a strong camp and preseason. Either Abdullah or Dallas could bring a valuable veteran presence to what’s shaping up to be a very young RB room. Tuten and Allen are both entering their second seasons, while Rodriguez brings three seasons of pro experience to the group. Taylor has turned heads in practices and has capitalized on the extra opportunities created by Rodriguez’s absence. He remains a long shot to make the active roster but should be a lock for the practice squad.
In a roster-building sense, adding depth at the running back position is valuable, but it’s widely argued that the Jaguars would benefit more from allocating a roster spot to another position of need, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. If Taylor makes the practice squad, he could be recalled to the active roster if necessary. As the camp unfolds, all of these factors will come into sharper focus, and the eventual decisions will shape how Jacksonville approaches the season from the ground game upward. The potential for a four-back rotation remains a topic of debate, but the prevailing wisdom suggests prioritizing depth elsewhere unless a late surge from one of the backups convinces the coaching staff otherwise.