JACKSONVILLE – He keeps it simple – and for Travis Etienne Jr., simple is good.
It's about what's happening on the field right now for the Jaguars' fifth-year running back, not what's happening off the field or what the future will hold.
"I just control the controllables," Etienne said.
Etienne, the Jaguars' starting running back the last three seasons, spoke to the media last week during the final week of organized team activities. Head Coach Liam Coen during that week discussed Etienne, praising the former first-round selection for his approach this offseason as the Jaguars transition to a new offense under Coen.
"Everyday, everything we have asked him to do he has done at a good click for us," Coen said.
Etienne's versatility figures to make him critical in Coen's offense, which often features two backs who are effective running and receiving.
"The ability in the screen game, to hand him jet sweeps, his vision so far in the run game's been good," Coen said. "He has done everything we've asked him to do and more. There has been a consistency.
"It is one of those things where he can shine in ways in space. He has done a great job."
Coen also last week addressed offseason speculation that Etienne might be traded in the offseason, with Tank Bigsby leading the Jaguars in rushing last season and with the Jaguars selecting two running backs – Bhayshul Tuten (Round 3) and LeQuint Allen Jr. (Round 7) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Coen called the speculation "absolutely inaccurate."
"I don't really understand some of the stuff that I've seen out there," he said.
Etienne, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He will play on the fifth-year option the Jaguars were able to exercise last offseason because of his status as a first-round selection – No. 25 overall in 2021.
Giving it all you got. 🏈 Swipe through shots from the Jaguars last day of OTAs. Stay tuned next week for mandatory minicamp and secure your free tickets.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive back Doneiko Slaughter (35) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) and wide receiver Austin Trammell (81) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Trenton Irwin (83) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Tyler Lacy (93) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman B.J. Green II (95) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman B.J. Green II (95) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman James Carpenter (99) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman B.J. Green II (95) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and defensive end Travon Walker (44) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Chad Muma (48) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Jack Kiser (54) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and defensive end Travon Walker (44) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig (32) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (27) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt (86) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive backs Darnell Savage (6), Christian Braswell (21), Jourdan Lewis (2), and Jarrian Jones (22) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (58) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (58) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars center Jonah Monheim (60) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Austin Trammell (81) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) and running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars center Jonah Monheim (60) and wide receiver Austin Trammell (81) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during OTAs at the Miller Electric Center on June 5, 2025.
"I feel like we all know it's a business," Etienne said. "It's production league and I feel like if I didn't produce then it's going to directly impact me. I can't let the outside world, that business aspect, affect my in-game performance because if I don't perform then I'm not going to be in the business.
"I feel like I just have to control what I can control, go out there and do my job and I'll be in a great position."
Etienne, who rushed for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games in 2022 and 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 games in 2023, rushed for 558 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games last season.
"I just continue to trust the process," he said. "We have great coaches in here now, great schemes, great offensive-minded coaches that put us in a position to make plays. I feel like I just have to just continue to create good habits and whenever the game time comes, just lean on those great habits and lean on my coach.
"He's putting me in a great position to go out there and make plays and be an amazing teammate for my team."
QUOTABLE
- Etienne on the Jaguars' 2025 coaching staff: "You can just tell how hungry they are. I feel like Coach Coen, in his first year being a head coach, wants it just as much as his players. I feel like that's easy to get behind and he's a great guy. You see his work at other places and it's easy to just get behind that. We're all excited to put last year behind us. I feel like we all operate from a place with that fire upon us. It's like coach says, 'Hungry dogs run faster.' We're all starving."
- Coen on developing rookies during the offseason program: "They do development periods every day right at the end of practice. We leave 15 minutes per day at the end for them to go in and get developmental work. That has been really key to those guys learning the system, getting updated. They got thrown in the mix. We're a month already into the install and so they've had to play catch up, and that's kind of what those developmental periods are for. It's hard to truly judge it at the moment. I just see, 'OK, are we getting lined up properly? Are we getting off on the right cadence? Are we not making total bust mistakes?' The finer details will come for those guys in training camp, but right now it's more about that broad scope learning."
