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Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer
Running back Tank Bigsby had the game of his career in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 32-16 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London.
He ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries as the Jaguars’ lead back because Travis Etienne Jr. was inactive due to a hamstring injury. Although the Jaguars have won their only two games when Bigsby has surpassed 100 yards rushing, coach Doug Pederson isn’t flipping the depth chart. Etienne, who has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of the past two seasons, is still RB1.
“I’m a believer where injury doesn’t replace your position,” Pederson said. “I think you have to have a fair competition for us. We’re blessed to have two really good running backs right now. When Etienne comes back, he’s just as explosive, just as good, just as powerful, and it’s still his job. “But Tank has done some really good things. We’re going to continue to find ways to put the ball in his hands, too, because he’s a little different runner than Etienne is.”
Bigsby didn’t start the game — that role went to veteran D’Ernest Johnson — but the Jaguars got the second-year back involved quickly, giving him two carries on their opening drive. He gained just 4 yards and those were the only times he touched the ball in the first quarter.
The Jaguars (2-5) scored 22 points in the second quarter and Bigsby carried six times for 35 yards and a touchdown. But it was in the second half when Bigsby got rolling, and it was the way he was running the ball as much as how many yards he gained that was important.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder is more physical than Etienne, and he punished the Patriots between the tackles. The Jaguars called runs on 16 consecutive plays at one point and Bigsby carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards.
“It feels like you don’t get too many opportunities in the National Football League so when you get one you have to take full advantage of them and do it at your best ability,” Bigsby said. “And I felt like as we kept running the ball that the Patriots would get tired, and we just got to keep going and keep going and keep going and keep going. And I just took advantage of those opportunities.”
Bigsby now has 415 yards rushing this season and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, which is a significant edge over Etienne, who has 230 yards rushing (4.1 YPC) in one fewer game.
“He’s done a really good job for us going into the season behind TJ [Etienne] and he’s earned the right to be out there,” Pederson said. “He’s earned an opportunity, and he did a nice job today. Ran hard, ran tough as they say, ran behind his pads. The offensive line did a great job for him, tight ends blocking and things of that nature, but he did the rest.”
Bigsby has rushed for two touchdowns as well as more than 100 yards in both games the Jaguars have won — he had 13 carries for 101 yards against the Indianapolis Colts — but he said it doesn’t matter whether he or Etienne is the main back.
“I just do whatever I have to do for this team to win,” he said. “My job, whatever my role is, whatever I have to do, take advantage of the opportunities of course, but just come out and help this team win and that’s what I try to do.”
