Doug Pederson is determined to see former Auburn football star Tank Bigsby realize his potential in 2024, expressing continued enthusiasm about the running back’s role in the offense.
“We have to get Tank going, bottom line. He is too good; that’s why we drafted him. I think early on, he had some ‘what is that?’ type plays for whatever reason,” Pederson stated (h/t On3).
“He’s a young player we’re excited about. Like we discussed last year, we want to reduce Etienne’s burden and keep him healthy for the entire season.
Bigsby maxed out at 32 yards in a single game last season and had just one catch on four targets. Despite Trevor Lawrence’s rise, Bigsby couldn’t gain traction in an offense where he split non-Travis Etienne Jr. carries with D’Ernest Johnson.
Tank Bigsby faced challenges during his NFL transition, carrying negative momentum from his final seasons at Auburn under Bryan Harsin. Bigsby nearly transferred in November 2021 but stayed for a 2022 season where he only excelled after Cadillac Williams became interim head coach following Harsin’s firing.
Jacksonville’s offensive line struggles mirror those at Auburn, but Bigsby needs more opportunities to improve. This responsibility falls on both him and Pederson to ensure he gets those touches.
Pederson’s comments may indicate Bigsby is set for more involvement, but it also suggests a timeline for Bigsby to prove himself in northeastern Florida.
