Jaguars' Bhayshul Tuten Is Ready to Lead the Offense

Bhayshul Tuten is making it hard to worry about the Jacksonville Jaguars losing their star running back Travis Etienne. Tuten is a second-year running back who has been having a strong training camp this summer. His speed has always stood out, but now he is showing coaches a lot more than just fast legs.

Tuten first caught people's attention during the offseason with his explosive speed. He played college football at Virginia Tech, where he was a big part of the team's offense. That same quickness is showing up in Jacksonville, where a fast burst can turn a short run into a long gain very quickly.

But speed alone does not keep a running back on the field. Coaches also need to trust a player when the team is passing the ball. That is where Tuten has been making real progress, and it could be the key to his future with the Jaguars.

John Shipley of Sports Illustrated pointed out that Tuten has looked strong in pass-protection drills during training camp. Pass protection means blocking defenders so they cannot reach the quarterback. This skill is very important because it tells coaches whether they can keep a running back in the game during passing plays.

Tuten will share carries this season with another running back named Chris Rodriguez. The Jaguars do not need Tuten to do everything on his own. If he keeps showing his burst and his ability to protect the quarterback, he should get plenty of chances to make plays.

Tuten has already answered one big question by proving his big-play speed is the real deal. Now he is showing there is more to his game than just being the fastest player in the backfield. For a young running back trying to earn more playing time, that kind of growth is very valuable.

If Tuten keeps improving his pass protection, coaches will have fewer reasons to take him off the field. That means he could be used in more situations and more game plans. For the Jaguars, that could make moving on from Etienne feel a lot less scary.