The Jacksonville Jaguars are reeling after some unfortunate news.
Travis Etienne, the team’s other first-round selection outside of QB Trevor Lawrence went down in Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints. The worst news did happen, as Etienne has reportedly suffered a Lisfranc tear in his foot, and will miss the entire season.
For those who may not know what a Lisfranc injury is, it involves the ligaments that help hold the middle bones of your feet/foot together. The ligament is meant to keep the bones (the metatarsals to be exact) close and in a nice working and natural order that allows for them to perform their functions. For the metatarsals, that is more support and weight.
If that ligament is torn, it is a very painful tear and often affects an athlete’s ability to produce and absorb force, and also serves as an attachment point for a handful of muscles in the lower leg. It’s quite a road for recovery that may require surgery. And In Etienne’s case, it will.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Jaguars RB Travis Etienne to undergo surgery after suffering significant tear in foot; first-round rookie potentially done for season (per @RapSheet)https://t.co/Be6MDPXd6u pic.twitter.com/mKcXrqvUrh
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 24, 2021
How Travis Etienne’s injury affects the Houston Texans and AFC South
With Lawrence’s college teammate gone for the year, it’s sure going to get lonely out there on offense for Jacksonville. Some were asking why this pick was made after the emergence of James Robinson last season. Robinson had one of the best rookie years for a running back in recent memory and was a fantasy football stud who helped secure championship hardware for many players.
While the Jaguars still have D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, and Laviska Shenault Jr., the problem is that they have to learn another new offense under Head Coach Urban Meyer. Throw in Lawrence’s rookie status as a multiplier and that makes one heck of a challenge to work through.
The injury to Travis Etienne will make the Jaguars the worst team in the division again. It’s hard to see what improvements will be made if there are any this year. The Texans will have a much better chance at sweeping the Jaguars for the second year in a row, and Indianapolis will exact their revenge (they were the Jaguars only win last year in Week 1) while doing the same. Tenessee will also sweep the Jaguars as well, making for an 0-6 divisional record.
Best wishes to Etienne as he recovers from this injury.