Oct 6, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) holds off Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) in the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Jaguars coach ‘feels good’ about return of RB Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne is trending toward returning to action following a two-game absence.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday that he “feels good” about Etienne taking the field against the host Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Etienne has been sidelined by a hamstring injury that he sustained in Jacksonville’s 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears in London on Oct. 13.

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Etienne has rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in six starts this season. Etienne, 25, has 16 catches for 91 yards.

Second-year running back Tank Bigsby leads Jacksonville in carries (85), rushing yards (493) and rushing touchdowns (four).

A first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft, Etienne has gained 3,246 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns in 40 career games (35 starts).

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Rome Weber (5) grabs Auburn Tigers running back Tank Bigsby (4) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn RB Tank Bigsby declares for NFL draft

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby, who ranks seventh all-time in rushing yards at the school, declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Monday.

Bigsby made the announcement on his Instagram page.

“I valued the opportunity to run out of the tunnel and play in game environments at Jordan-Hare Stadium that was absolutely electrifying that words can’t describe,” Bigsby wrote. “Shoutout to the Auburn nation and fans for your continuous support throughout my 3 years at Auburn.”

Bigsby becomes the fourth Auburn player to declare so far, joining linebacker Derick Hall, defensive end Colby Wooden and linebacker Owen Pappoe.

ESPN rates Bigsby as the ninth-best running back in the 2023 draft class.

Bigsby ran for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season, a turbulent one on the Plains. He finishes with 2,903 rushing yards and 25 TDs, good for eighth all-time in Auburn history.

–Field Level Media

Dec 5, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA;  Auburn Tigers running back Tank Bigsby (4) reacts after a long run agains the Texas A&M Aggies during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Auburn RB Bigsby won’t play in Citrus Bowl

Standout Auburn running back Tank Bigsby won’t play Friday when the Tigers play No. 14 Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl, AL.com reported.

No reason was given for Bigsby’s absence.

Bigsby was named the Southeastern Conference’s co-freshman of the year and ran for 834 yards and five touchdowns this season. He also returned 13 kicks for 306 yards.

A four-star recruit, Bigsby was the fourth-ranked running back and No. 40 overall player in the nation in the Class of 2020, per the 247Sports composite.

There have been rumblings that Bigsby might leave Auburn in the wake of coach Gus Malzahn’s firing. Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Chad Morris said he wasn’t sure Bigsby would play in the game.

“Well, we are hoping. We’ll see on that,” Morris replied. “He has definitely had a great year, a phenomenal year. A young man that has an incredible future ahead of him. When you are able to get the ball in his hands, he makes a lot of things right when they aren’t right.”

Shaun Shivers and D.J. Williams are expected to be the primary running backs without Bigsby.

–Field Level Media