NFL Player News

Etienne (foot) has been placed on injured reserve, making him ineligible to play in 2021, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Etienne needs surgery on his left foot after suffering a Lisfranc injury during Monday's preseason game against New Orleans. Previous reports suggested he'd miss his entire rookie campaign, and the latest update eliminates any glimmer of hope, as players will only be eligible to return from IR if they're placed on it after 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 (the deadline to get down to 53 roster spots). The Jaguars' quick decision is yet another indicator of the severity of Etienne's injury, though he should still have plenty of time to recover before training camp next summer (and possibly much sooner). With the rookie first-round pick stuck on the shelf until next year, James Robinson will lead the Jacksonville backfield again, perhaps getting some help from Carlos Hyde, Dare Ogunbowale and/or Devine Ozigbo.

Robinson's teammate Travis Etienne needs foot surgery that likely will rule him out for the season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Robinson's fantasy stock tumbled when the Jaguars used a first-round pick on a running back despite finding gold in the UDFA pot the previous offseason. The team had even signed Carlos Hyde in March to help with backfield depth, perhaps hinting that Robinson would be spelled on early downs rather than late ones most of the time. But with Etienne now out of the 2021 picture, Robinson is the best pass-catching back on the roster, and he's also the preeminent runner. That doesn't mean he'll match last year's average of 20.6 touches per game, but it's at least within the realistic range of possibilities now that he's sharing snaps with only Hyde instead of Etienne and Hyde. Robinson figures to get the start and plenty of touches Week 1 at Houston.

Etienne (foot) is likely to miss the entire 2021 season after tests revealed he'll need surgery, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The first-round pick was injured in Monday's preseason game against the Saints. He'll reportedly miss multiple months and likely the entire season, leaving James Robinson and Carlos Hyde as the top options in Jacksonville's backfield.

Coach Dan Campbell revealed Tuesday that he's concerned about Swift's conditioning and readiness for Week 1 as he works his way back from a groin injury, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

It sounds like the concern is about workload/endurance more so than availability, but the latter could also come into question if Swift doesn't respond well on the practice field. To that end, he's scheduled for a rigorous practice Tuesday, perhaps getting a chance to ease some of Campbell's doubts. The second-year pro practiced Monday, with Chris Burke of The Athletic reporting afterward that Swift appeared on track for Week 1 against San Francisco.

Robinson's teammate, Travis Etienne, suffered a midfoot sprain during Monday night's preseason game against the Saints, ESPN's Michael DiRocco reports.

The report notes that Etienne's left foot will require further testing, at which time there should be added clarity with regard to how much time he might miss. With the Jaguars' regular-season slate opening Sept. 12, the rookie back's Week 1 status is unclear at this stage. In the event that Etienne is sidelined early on in the 2021 campaign, more touches would be available for Robinson, particularly targets, while Carlos Hyde could also pick up some extra carries.

Washington rushed four times for 16 yards while catching two of two targets for 39 yards during Monday's preseason victory over the Jaguars.

After seeing no touches on six offensive snaps in the preseason opener, Washington was more involved offensively and he didn't get bottled up as frequently as Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman did. However, with Alvin Kamara and Tony Jones also above Washington on the depth chart, his case for a roster spot will likely come down to special teams. While he didn't return any kickoffs Monday, Washington returned two in the opener and through two preseason games his 24.0-yard average tops the team.

Jones has made a strong impression through two preseason games, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Jeff Duncan of The Athletic goes a step further and calls Jones the second-best running back on the Saints' roster -- a comment that's primarily meant as praise but also adds to the growing doubts surrounding Latavius Murray. While Murray survived a purge of veteran players earlier this offseason, the 31-year-old isn't necessarily safe as he sports a non-guaranteed $2.95 million base salary while Jones and Devonta Freeman are signed for much less. Jones and Murray are the names to watch behind Alvin Kamara in the New Orleans backfield, with Freeman a long shot to make the Week 1 roster and Dwayne Washington mostly a special teams player. Jones should see action in the preseason finale, after taking 12 carries for 106 yards and a TD through the first two games.

Etienne (foot) is scheduled for more testing Tuesday after X-Rays on his Lisfranc injury came back negative, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Initially deemed questionable to return after his second-quarter exit, Etienne never made it back to Monday's 23-21 preseason loss to New Orleans, instead donning a walking boot and crutches after the game. His injury has since been identified as a Lisfranc/midfoot sprain, with the Jaguars now trying to figure out how much time he'll miss. Any absence in the regular season would leave more touches for James Robinson, particularly targets, while Carlos Hyde could add some more carries to his plate.

Etienne has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain in the aftermath of Monday's preseason loss in New Orleans and will be out indefinitely, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Considering the vague prognosis, Etienne's status for Week 1 could be in peril, pending testing once the Jaguars return to Jacksonville. The rookie first-round pick left Monday's game in the second quarter after turning two touches into four yards from scrimmage. Afterward, Etienne was walking with a visible limp and a boot on his left foot. Look for incumbent James Robinson (five carries for 13 yards Monday) and Carlos Hyde (four touches for six total yards) to have elevated stature in the Jags backfield while Etienne is sidelined.

Etienne (foot) was spotted in a walking boot after Monday's preseason loss at New Orleans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Etienne exited the exhibition in the second quarter and was evaluated by the Jaguars' medical staff, who deemed him questionable to return. But the rookie first-rounder was unable to do so, and he'll now undergo additional testing on his left foot once the team gets back to Jacksonville. During a postgame interview, coach Urban Meyer said Etienne may have a sprained foot, per NFL.com. Having said that, the upcoming examination of Etienne's foot will determine the nature of the injury and its accompanying prognosis.