He rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries as the Jaguars’ top scorer because Travis Etienne Jr. was sluggish due to a hamstring shock. Although the Jaguars won their two best games when Bigsby surpassed 100 yards at full speed, educator Doug Pederson isn’t changing the intensity table. Etienne, who has had more than 1,000 yards in each of the current two seasons, remains RB1.
“I think injuries are no substitute for position,” Pederson said. “I think you have to have a fair competition for us. We are lucky to have two really good riders at the moment. When Etienne comes back, he is just as explosive, just as good, just as powerful, and it’s still his job. “Without However, Tank has done some things really right. “We’re starting to keep looking for ways to get the ball in his hands as well, because he’s a running back one minute longer than Etienne.”
Bigsby didn’t start the game (that role went to veteran D’Ernest Johnson) but the Jaguars quickly got the second-year running back involved, giving him two carries on their opening drive. He gained only 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 that Bigsby started rolling, and what mattered was how he ran the ball and how many yards he gained.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder is more physical than Etienne and 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.
“There don’t seem to be many opportunities in the National Football League, so when you get one, you have to make the most of it and do it with your best talent,” Bigsby said. “And I felt like if we kept working the ball the Patriots would run out, and it was just given to us to make the run and make the run and make the run and make the run. And I just took advantage of those opportunities.”
Bigsby now has 415 rushing yards this season and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, which is a significant advantage over Etienne, who has 230 rushing yards (4.1 YPC) in one less game.
“He’s done a really perfect job for us starting the season behind TJ.” [Etienne] and he’s earned the right to be on the market,” Pederson said. “He’s earned an opportunity and has done a nice job lately. He ran thirsty, he ran with a trap as they say, he ran after his pads. The offensive order did a splendid job for him, tight ends blocking and issues of that nature, but he did the rest.”
Bigsby has rushed for two touchdowns and more than 100 yards in the two games the Jaguars won (he had 13 carries for 101 yards against the Indianapolis Colts), but he said it doesn’t matter if he or Etienne are the main back.
“I do what I have to do for this team to win,” he said. “My job, whatever my position is, whatever I have to do, is to take advantage of the opportunities, of course, but just go out there and help this team win, and that’s what I intend to do.”
