JACKSONVILLE – These are good days for Travis Etienne Jr..
That's true from a family perspective. It's also true from a football perspective, though the family part matters a lot this week for the Jaguars' fifth-year running back.
"It's a dream come true," Etienne said of opening the 2025 regular season at EverBank Stadium against the Carolina Panthers, for whom his brother – Trevor – will make his NFL debut Sunday.
"My mom asked me if I was going to switch jerseys [with Trevor]," Etienne said. "I said, 'The jersey has been swapped since it was put in the schedule.' I hope he gets in and I hope he takes advantage of his opportunities.
"If we come away with a 'W' and he has a big game, that'd be the best-case scenario."
As important for Etienne and the Jaguars this week:
His role in the offense, with Head Coach Liam Coen on Wednesday praising not only Etienne's versatility but his approach under a new regime in a new offensive scheme.
"He has been a good pro for us," Coen said of Etienne. "I've been really appreciative of the way he has gone about his work and gone about it."
Etienne, the Jaguars' starting running back since midway through the 2022 season, enters Week 1 as the co-starter with third-year veteran Tank Bigsby. Etienne impressed a new coaching staff throughout the offseason with his ability as a receiver and game-breaking runner.
"I love being moved around," Etienne said. "He (Coen) put me in the position to give me the ball in space. That's where I can be very dangerous when I'm out there on the edges, making a guy miss, getting vertical, making plays, keeping the chains moving.
"He just simplified it. He gets the playmakers the ball and lets us go out and play and not think too much. His scheme allows us to do that and allows me to get back to being myself and being a spark for the team."
Coen said the running backs' roles evolved when he was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator last season, and he said Etienne's versatility "has been able to give us an opportunity to do that."
"He has lined up in multiple different spots and handled the workload that we've given him," Coen said. "That is different than just lining up either behind the quarterback or next to him. I've appreciated how much he's been able to do, and it also helps us in the screen game, in the pass game, because he can catch it and make people miss in space.
"We have got to use him as a guy that can help make plays because there's only so many plays you can dial. They have to be able to do something with the ball to be special, to continue to take the offense to the next level."
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who played with Etienne three seasons at Clemson and the past three with the Jaguars, called Etienne "a dynamic playmaker."
"It's been great seeing everything he can do with the ball," Lawrence said. "I've seen it for a long time and I think people around the league have seen it. At times, it has been used in different ways but this is a great opportunity to really maximize what he's good at.
"He's good at a few different things, but just getting the ball in his hands: That can be run game, pass game, whatever it is. He's hard to tackle once he get the ball and he's great in space. To see him continue to build on those is going to be fun."
Etienne, the No. 25 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, missed his rookie season with a lisfranc injury before rushing for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns in 2022 while emerging as a starter six games into that season.
He then rushed for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023 before rushing for 558 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
"I feel great going into the season with all the knowledge that I've gained in previous years, going through highs and lows – and knowing what to expect," Etienne said. "I can handle so much more now. I know what to expect.
"I will say this is the most I've been ready, the most excited and the most anticipation I've had going into a season – especially after last season, getting that taste out of my mouth. I'm going into my fifth year, the last year on my deal. I know what's at stake.
"I'm just going to rely on the work I put in to propel me through the season."
It's go time. Jaguars hit the grass to prepare for Week One of the 2025 regular season, when the Carolina Panthers will enter EverBank Stadium on game day. Check out top photos from practice. ➡️
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receivers during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Chandler Brayboy (15) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6), cornerback Jarrian Jones (22), linebacker Dennis Gardeck (47) and safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig (32) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Keni-H Lovely (31)during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga (55) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown (5) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (14) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) and cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Matt Dickerson (93) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (1) and Bhayshul Tuten (33) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (98) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Patrick Herbert (88) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter (12) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long (84) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (89) during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 1, 2025.
