Travis Etienne Jr. is not playing today because he was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR) list due to a hamstring injury. He suffered and aggravated the soft-tissue injury during the third quarter of the New Orleans Saints Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Because he is on Injured Reserve, Etienne is required to miss a minimum of four games. His earliest possible return to the active lineup would be in Week 9. Hence, the Saints will have to use their RB depth chart to substitute him.

Saints RB depth chart vs Falcons

Without Etienne, the Saints will continue to use their run-by-committee, distributing the snaps across the depth chart. That is something the Saints have done even with Etienne healthy. This is their RB depth chart:

• Alvin Kamara
• Kendre Miller
• CJ Donaldson

Falcons RB depth chart vs Saints

The Falcons running game is way different. They do have an elite RB who is an absolute workhorse. Bijan Robinson has established himself as a top-tier player with incredible skills. This is the Falcons RB depth chart:

• Bijan Robinson
• Brian Robinson Jr.

Key takeaways

• Travis Etienne Jr. was placed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.
• His earliest possible return from the mandated four-game absence is Week 9.
• The Saints will distribute snaps between Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and CJ Donaldson.

The positive thing for Kamara and the Saints is that, while Etienne was the starter, Kamara and Kendre Miller also saw snaps. The offense was operating as a three-headed committee. This is the depth chart without Etienne:

• Alvin Kamara
• Kendre Miller
• CJ Donaldson

Kamara is now the clear-cut guy despite the committee

While Miller will get his fair share of snaps, Kamara is the more polished running back. Also, Kamara is elite in the passing game, so he will be used more in play-action or checkdowns option.

Hence, even if he won’t be a workhorse, Kamara is the guy the Saints will predominantly trust their veteran to produce in key moments of the game. It’s also worth mentioning that the Saints are a pass-happy offense with quarterback Tyler Shough leading the NFL in both pass attempts (132) and pass completions (91).

Kamara is a different kind of RB

Kamara is not the most explosive back out there. He leans towards patience, huge ability to stay on his feet and balance out of contact. He won’t explode for a huge run, and he won’t juke anyone out of their feet, but he will get plays going.

Kendre Miller is more of a blend of physical, downhill running and surprising lateral agility. Hence, he complements Kamara’s skillset to make the Saints’ running game one that is very effective.

Key takeaways

• Travis Etienne was placed on the Injured Reserve list, sidelining him for four games.
• Saints quarterback Tyler Shough leads the NFL with 132 pass attempts.
• Kendre Miller complements the backfield with a blend of physical, downhill running.

“It’s a group that has a lot of opportunities to them,” the head coach recently revealed during his press conference. “There’s a wide-open room. It’s truly wide open.”

Bhayshul Tuten currently appears to be the best-positioned player on the depth chart, so it would not be surprising if the ground game starts running through him as early as Week 1. With an important preparation period still ahead, Coen still has time to decide who will take on this important role for the team.

Etienne took important numbers to New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints have secured a major backfield weapon by acquiring Travis Etienne, leaving a massive void in Jacksonville that will be incredibly difficult to fill. Over his four active seasons with the Jaguars, Etienne established himself as an elite dual-threat cornerstone, cementing his place in franchise history with 3,798 rushing yards (third all-time) and 25 touchdowns on the ground. His versatility was a focal point of the Jaguars’ offense, contributing 168 receptions for 1,338 yards and 7 receiving scores.

Replacing that level of production is a daunting task for Jacksonville, especially coming off Etienne’s standout 2025 campaign, where he rushed for 1,107 yards and registered a career-high 13 total touchdowns.

Losing a player who consistently guarantees over 1,000 rushing yards while serving as a reliable, explosive target out of the backfield forces the Jaguars into a challenging offensive transition, as modern, high-volume backs with his specific skill set are exceptionally rare in today’s NFL.

Liam Coen’s backfield for the 2026 NFL season

Liam Coen will deploy a completely revamped, committee-driven backfield for the Jaguars this season. Sophomores Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr.—both selected in the 2025 NFL Draft—are expected to handle the bulk of the explosive playmaking duties, with Tuten poised to take a significant leap after serving as a reliable red-zone threat during his rookie year.

Adding powerful depth to the rotation is Chris Rodriguez Jr., who brings valuable familiarity with Coen’s system from their college days together and will likely anchor the short-yardage and goal-line situations.

To round out the group, seasoned veterans Ameer Abdullah and DeeJay Dallas provide reliable pass-catching options out of the backfield and critical special teams versatility. While losing an elite feature back is never easy, Coen’s new-look stable offers a diverse, specialized mix of youth and experience tailored to keep defenses off-balance.

Per Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Times, Saints GM Loomis is very non-committal on Alvin Kamara. “We’re just trying to see how he’s gonna fit on our roster. Obviously there’s a resource management element. We’ll get to that over the next week or two.”

This is a classic example of a team trying to make a legend “pass the torch” to a younger, stylistically similar running back. Both are dual-threat backs, with huge elusiveness, and patient-yet-explosive skill sets. Now, they have both, and they are not exactly clear on how to deal with it.

Kamara should be used by Kellen Moore

If there’s someone who can find a way to use two very good running backs, it’s an offensive, creative play-caller like Kellen Moore. The head coach debuted last season and the Saints actually had a great finish to the season.

Moore’s offenses use quite a lot of running game and play-action. Hence, the running backs are key. Moore uses this to open up the field for wideouts and give chance to the quarterback to play more peacefully. Also, Tyler Shough is not precisely the biggest arm in the NFL, he needs help to look good.

Kamara and Etienne could be a highly effective committee

Being able to intertwine Kamara and Etienne could allow the Saints to maintain arguably the same level of play while keeping the stamina of the running game. This could also allow the Saints to run the ball without hesitation.

Running the ball opens up the game for the offense, but it also makes the team in charge to control the tempo of the game. The fact is, the team might want to see where Kamara fits in, but there are huge opportunities to actually fit him in the scheme.

In recent years, Alvin Kamara has been the most reliable player for the Saints. Nevertheless, the club signed Travis Etienne Jr. to its offense, a move that Kamara views favorably.

“I think a lot of people be thinking there’s a beef or something when moves like this happen,” Kamara said. “It’s like, shoot, I couldn’t be happier. One, my boy got paid, and two, ain’t nothing but some help in the backfield. That’s the name of the game. One person can’t do it by themselves. I’m cool with it. Whichever direction that we can take it, I’m with it. I haven’t had too much a chance to talk to him, but definitely excited that he’s got a fleur-de-lis on his helmet, and he got paid.”

Alvin Kamara vs. Travis Etienne Jr. in numbers

Alvin Kamara is a five-time Pro Bowler and a living legend for the Saints. However, the club knows his future is uncertain, which is why the arrival of Travis Etienne Jr. makes sense.

Kamara, 30, has been a dual-threat player his entire career. His production has come through a combination of his ground and air attack, amassing 12,198 scrimmage yards and 86 total touchdowns in his career.

On the other hand, Travis Etienne Jr. joined the club on a four-year, $52 million deal. He has been highly productive as a runner, tallying 3,798 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns across his four seasons in the league.

Alvin Kamara vs. Travis Etienne Jr.: Who will be the starting RB?

While Alvin Kamara has been a cornerstone for the Saints, he is expected to serve as a high-volume “RB1B” or secondary option in 2026. This isn’t because he has lost his touch, but because Etienne Jr. currently offers more explosiveness as a primary ball carrier.

However, both are expected to share touches, with Kamara utilized more as a receiving and dual-threat asset. If the Saints use them properly, the offense can shine with both on the field.

According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, the team is perfectly fine with letting their running back room as it is. This means Bhayshul Tuten will replace Travis Etienne as the starter, while newly-signed Chris Rodriguez will serve as the backup.

Etienne himself is going to see his snaps shared with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Still, it’s somewhat surprising to see the Jaguars content with what they have right now, given how important was Etienne for them last season.

Tuten is poised for a breakout season

Tuten had 83 attempts for 307 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. The fact is that was enough for head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone to convince them to give Tuten the spotlight.

To be fair to Tuten, he is a strong, powerful runner who is very hard to bring down. However, he is not as elusive or as swift as Etienne is. This is a golden opportunity for him to prove his worth.

The Jaguars are not done

Jacksonville has signed just one free agent this season, but he was notoriously busy after the draft last year. According to Shipley, this year could be the same as he reported that the Jaguars will be “swinging this offseason.”

“It just makes it better for both of us,” Etienne said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show. “Every time we’re out there, we want to feel fresh. It keeps the defense on their toes. They’ve gotta worry about two guys instead of one. I feel like it’s only gonna make the team better.”

The NFC South used to be one of the most balanced divisions last season. The Saints, with this duo of running backs, aim to break the mold and steamroll everyone heading into the upcoming season.

Will Kamara remain a Saint?

Alvin Kamara’s status with the New Orleans Saints is currently on high alert as the team evaluates his future for the 2026 season. Despite a recent contract restructure that lowered his cap hit to approximately $10.5 million, the front office is reportedly considering further adjustments, including a potential pay cut or even a roster cut.

A lethal backfield in New Orleans

In the 2025 season, Travis Etienne Jr. established himself as a workhorse, rushing for 1,107 yards and 7 touchdowns on 260 carries, while adding 292 receiving yards and 6 scores through the air. In contrast, Alvin Kamara saw a more limited role in 11 games, finishing the year with 471 rushing yards, 186 receiving yards, and one total touchdown on the ground.

More ground options for Moore

The Saints’ running back room is full of talent. In addition to the aforementioned Etienne and Kamara, the depth chart is complemented by the following players:

• Kendre Miller
• Devin Neal
• Ty Chandler
• Audric Estime
• Evan Hull

Speaking to the press, Etienne said, “Tyler, he’s a great person, talking with him and being with him last night, you can sense the hunger, you can sense that he wants it for the city as well.” Now, the Super Bowl is everybody’s dream, though the Saints have still ways to go before that.

Etienne said that watching Shough improve down the stretch was a key factor to sign with his hometown team. He said it “definitely was a factor.” However, going back to his hometown was the primary motivation.

Shough was the rookie with most wins at the QB position

Shough had more wins than Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. However, while he impressed more than anyone thought, there are still some doubts around what he can produce long term.

Shough had a 5-4 record, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He became very effective under the Kellen Moore scheme. Now, he must avoid the feared sophomore slump.

The NFC South is there for the taking

The NFC South was won by the Panthers last year with an 8-9 record. The Buccaneers also finished 8-9 and their head coach is on the hot seat. Hence, if the Saints keep improving, they might be able to return to the NFL Playoffs.

While Kellen Moore didn’t speak on Alvin Kamara’s future, the message for the new faces coming in is clear now. According to Moore,“I think if there’s a theme, a bunch of high-character guys, guys that we love in this locker room, that are going to be great teammates, great people in this community, and obviously we certainly recognize the ability for them to perform on the field. It’ll be a lot of fun.”

And the Saints really need those kinds of guys. After a dreadful start to the 2025 NFL season, they started to show character and glimpses of a good future down the stretch. Hence, bringing more productive, high-character guys could boost this team to new heights.

Etienne is coming off a career-resurgence year

After having two 1,000-yard seasons, Etienne‘s third year in the NFL was very worrisome. He basically cut his production in half and had only two touchdowns. It was not a great look. However, with the arrival of Liam Coen as the Jaguars head coach, Etienne was once again a deadly threat.

He resurfaced as a top-tier back with 1,399 scrimmage yards and a career-high 13 total touchdowns. Now, the Saints get a young, dual-threat back to keep the production going. After Alvin Kamara, having Etienne means the playbook basically remains the same.

Etienne might be the best thing to happen to Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough overcame expectations last year. No one had really much to hope for with Shough. However, he started nine games and had a 5-4 record, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Still, Shough needs help. He doesn’t have the best arm and he wants to take care of the ball. Hence, having a weapon that can catch passes from the backfield is just a gift from heaven. Also, Kellen Moore is a highly effective playcaller, so he can easily draw some productive plays for the two.

Etienne made the decision to leave the Jaguars after five seasons, embracing a new chapter of his NFL career. He headed to the New Orleans Saints after they signed him to a four-year deal worth up to $52 million, boosting the Saints’ RB depth chart—which already includes Alvin Kamara.

Lawrence shared his thoughts on the news through social media, as NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed. “We’ve come a long way!! Going to miss you man. Been a hell of an 8 year run. Best is yet to come,” Lawrence wrote.

Lawrence and Etienne were teammates throughout their entire college careers at Clemson Tigers football from 2018 to 2020 before entering the NFL in 2021. They later played together as full-time starters for four straight seasons, helping the Jaguars reach the playoffs twice during that span. Both players emerged as key figures during those years, developing strong chemistry as an offensive duo.

The Lawrence and Etienne duo

Etienne leaves behind a significant gap in the Jaguars’ running back unit after serving as the full-time starter from 2021 to 2025. This past season, he started in all but one game, recording 260 rushes for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, while also adding 36 receptions for 292 yards and six touchdowns.

Jacksonville finished the 2025 NFL season with a 12-5 record, winning the AFC South Division title. The Jaguars finished ahead of the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. In the AFC standings, they placed third, finishing ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Texans, while sitting behind the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.

As insider Jordan Schultz reported, the Saints have signed Travis Etienne Jr, who became a free agent after his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Etienne Jr. is now joining Kamara and company on a New Orleans team that is eyeing the next step in its rebuild.

Etienne is now joining a running back room in NOLA that features Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, and Audric Estime, via ESPN. At least one of them will have to make way for Etienne Jr when the 2026 NFL season gets underway.

Jaguars depth chart at RB

As for the Jaguars, in less than a year they have parted ways with what many expected to be their one-two punch for a long time. Trading Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles last season and letting Etienne walk as an unrestricted free agent before the 2026 NFL campaign, Liam Coen will be commanding a very different half back’s room.

As listed on ESPN, the Jaguars’ running back options feature Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr., and DeeJay Dallas. Based on where it currently stands, Jacksonville could be a name to watch in the HB market both during free agency and in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Etienne Jr. contract details

According to Adam Schefter, the Saints have handed Etienne Jr. a four-year contract worth $52 million. Thus, Etienne is set to make an average of $13 million per season. Etienne could prove crucial for New Orleans, who last year witnessed an injury bug deplete its running back room, watching Kamara, Miller, and Neal all go down.

Moreover, Travis Etienne is now joining the NFC South, where his younger brother, Trevor Etienne, plays for the Carolina Panthers. The Etienne household may need to start making reservations as the siblings will face each other twice during the 2026 campaign.