The Saints spent the offseason trying to give Tyler Shough every possible advantage in his second year at quarterback, and that plan included a major investment in the backfield. New Orleans already had Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Alvin Kamara in place, added Jordyn Tyson in the draft even though he’ll miss the first two months, and then made a splash with Travis Etienne Jr.
So far, that move has not paid off.
Etienne’s $48 million deal is already drawing scrutiny, with Alex Kay of Bleacher Report arguing the Saints may be headed toward buyer’s remorse. As Kay put it: "Considering Etienne is being paid as an upper-echelon running back, the Saints need far better returns in the coming weeks before this contract winds up being a significant albatross on their books."
That concern comes from what Etienne has done - and what he hasn’t done - through two games in New Orleans. After a productive season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he rushed for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries and added 36 catches on 52 targets for 292 yards and six touchdowns, his start with the Saints has been far quieter.
He has 17 carries for 71 yards and nine receptions on 11 targets for 38 yards.
The efficiency has slipped, too. Etienne’s 4.2 yards per touch is the lowest of his career and down from 4.7 yards per touch last season. Usage has been part of the issue as well, since his 57% snap count through two weeks is not what the Saints had in mind after committing $48 million, including $28 million guaranteed.
Instead of dominating the backfield, Etienne has been splitting touches with Kamara, CJ Donaldson and Keandre Miller.
It’s still early, and two weeks is not enough to stamp this deal a failure. But the opening stretch has been rough enough to raise eyebrows, especially with Kamara getting so much work. For now, the Saints’ expensive backfield setup is something to watch closely, because the warning signs are already there.
In Other News...
Jaguars Rookies Already Face A Week 3 Reality Check
After the Jaguars let a 13-3 lead slip away in their Week 2 loss to Denver, the focus around the building quickly shifted from the frustration of the finish to what comes next. Liam Coen has been pushing his rookies to treat every week like its own assignment, and that message is especially pointed now, with the early part of the season already sorting out which first-year players are part of the immediate plan and which ones still have ground to make up.
Wesley Williams, Tanner Koziol, Jalen Huskey and CJ Williams were all healthy scratches against the Broncos, while undrafted rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. got his first taste of the NFL stage. Others, including Albert Regis, Josh Cameron and Nate Boerkircher, were worked in at different levels as the game unfolded, a reminder that rookie roles can change fast in Jacksonville. The bigger question now is how many of those young players can turn a rough Week 2 into real traction before the next challenge arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Run Defense Suddenly Has A Week 3 Concern Fans Will Notice
The Jaguars injury report for Week 3 brought a little extra attention to the middle of the defense, where defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton was listed as limited while working back from a back injury. Hamilton has been a key piece up front, so even a small change in his availability can ripple through a run defense that is already looking for more consistency. Center Robert Hainsey was also limited, adding another familiar name to a report that had some weight for both sides of the line.
Liam Coen has already signaled that he wants more out of the defensive tackle group, and he sounded confident the team has enough depth to handle whatever comes next. If Hamilton ends up restricted, rookie Albert Regis could be asked to play a bigger role sooner than expected, which would be a meaningful test for a unit trying to hold the line early in the season. For a Jaguars defense that has been leaning on its front to set the tone, this is the kind of Week 3 development that bears watching. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Just Got A Reality Check Fans Can't Ignore
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos did more than hand Jacksonville its first real stumble of the season. After building a 10-point second-half lead and letting it slip away, the mood around the team shifted quickly, with head coach Liam Coen stressing accountability and the need for a sharper response in the days ahead.
National power rankings have followed suit, nudging Jacksonville just outside the top 10 and treating the defeat as a reminder that early-season optimism still needs to be backed up. For a team with higher expectations, the next stretch now carries a little more weight, because the margin for a bad loss shrinks fast when the league starts sorting out who is for real. [Read more 🡒]