How playing time is going to shake out at the running back position this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars still remains to be seen.
As coach Liam Coen said after Tuesday’s OTAs practice, this is a “wide open room.”
“It’s a group that has a lot of opportunities to them,” Coen said of the running backs. “There’s a wide open room. I mean, it’s truly wide open.”
Tuten brings impressive speed and playmaking potential to the backfield. He is someone who can impact both the run and passing games.
One reason why the Jaguars really liked Rodriguez in free agency was his ability to create as a ball carrier. He ranked among the best last season in average yards after contact and rush yards over expected per attempt.
Allen’s snaps last season mostly came on passing downs, where he is excellent in pass protection. Coen mentioned earlier this offseason that he wants to find ways to get Allen more targets in the passing game as well.
“Bringing Chris (Rodriguez) in only continues to provide those opportunities for those guys,” Coen said. “I’ve really liked how (Bhayshul) Tutten has run it this spring so far, and the way he looks as opposed to last year at this time. I think Chris will be a good added thump that we continue to need and get some of those hard yards, which is very difficult to see at this time of the year. I think LeQuint (Allen) had carved out a nice role for himself last year. And I think he’s eager for more and trying to get more involved in the pass game and in the run game.”
Behind those three on the depth chart are veterans Ameer Abdullah and DeeJay Dallas. UDFA J’Mari Taylor will be an intriguing player to watch this summer, after a highly productive 2025 season in college.
For what it’s worth, oftentimes last season the Jaguars did roster a fourth running back on the 53-man.
“I think Ameer, bringing him in, DeeJay, and that whole room. I’m excited to see Taylor as well and see that whole room what it looks like. I think some of those guys will play in preseason games and be able to provide some of that opportunity because it’s so hard to evaluate a running back until you’re playing tackle football.
“I think that our guys that we have in the room, all three of them are going to be better when you play 11 on 11 tackle football than right now in t-shirt and shorts. That’s not really all of their game. Their game is a lot of them is bu based on physicality, toughness, breaking tackles, extra yards, the hidden yards in a game that we’re just not going to see out here.”
A big part of the Jaguars’ offense reaching new heights in 2026 will be having a more consistent run game to lean on. As good as the offense was during the second half of last season, the run game struggled to consistently produce. Improved play from the offensive line will be a key part of that equation.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars running back room ‘truly wide open,’ says Liam Coen
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
