James Robinson in Line for Major Role After Travis Etienne Injury

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Jacksonville Jaguars this preseason, as Monday night’s dismal performance against the New Orleans Saints came with a price.

First-round pick Travis Etienne reportedly suffered a mid-foot sprain and will undergo surgery that reportedly will cost him the 2021 season.

It’s a major blow for the Jaguars, as Etienne has established a solid relationship with rookie quarterback (and college teammate) Trevor Lawrence. WynnBET had given Etienne +2200 odds to win the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award this season. 

With Etienne out, the backfield will once again belong to last year’s star, the undrafted James Robinson. The 23-year-old had a fantastic rookie campaign, rushing for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 49 catches for 344 yards and three more scores in just 14 games. 

Robinson is a great replacement, but losing Etienne takes away the one-two punch that the Jags had hoped to form at running back. 

Robinson and Etienne were both +20000 to lead the NFL in rushing yards this season at WynnBET, but that was mainly due to the fact that the two were expected to split carries in Jacksonville. 

With Etienne out of the picture for likely the entire 2021 season, Robinson is going to play a major role and should dominate running back touches ahead of Carlos Hyde, especially if he produces early on in the season. 

During the 2020 campaign, Robinson finished tied for fifth in the league in rushing yards despite missing two games. If the Jaguars end up giving him the reins once again and he succeeds, he could be worth a long shot bet at +20000 odds.

Hyde hasn't been much more than a backup for several seasons, so bettors have a great chance to grab Robinson at an insane value prior to the season. 

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