Bhayshul Tuten turned Sunday’s 42-7 demolition of the Indianapolis Colts into his official coming-out party. The second-year running back set career highs with 104 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards — and answered the biggest question of NFL Week 8: yes, he is ready to be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ featured back.
Character Name (Credits: ESPN)
Tuten carried 16 times for 104 yards and a touchdown, and added two catches for 55 yards and another score at EverBank Stadium. The workload is no accident: he has carried the ball 16 or more times in three of his last four games, and has already blown past his entire rookie workload of 83 carries — with 94 carries for 388 yards and two touchdowns, plus 13 catches for 126 yards and two more scores.
Bhayshul Tuten Leads All NFL Running Backs in PFF Grade
The advanced numbers are even louder than the box score. Tuten grades at 90.6 overall on Pro Football Focus — first among 44 running backs — with 25 missed tackles forced and 3.6 yards after contact per carry. He took 22 carries against Philadelphia earlier this year and caught four passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the London loss to Houston.
That was before Sunday’s smash spot: a 2-5 Colts team that had just fired GM Chris Ballard and traded away veteran starters, ranked 27th in EPA per rush allowed. Tuten carved them up on the ground while Trevor Lawrence — 14 touchdowns against four picks on the year — kept the box honest.
Jaguars Are 5-2 and the AFC South Is Theirs to Lose
The win moved Jacksonville to 5-2 and atop the AFC South, with an NFL-best home mark of 4-1. The Jags have scored at least 34 points in seven straight regular-season home games, and with a ground game that had ranked in the league’s bottom half suddenly powered by a true RB1, the playoff picture is shifting in their favor.
Two touchdowns from their backfield’s second-year engine, one blowout win, and the division lead — the featured-back debate in Jacksonville looks settled.
Also Read: Colts’ Shane Steichen Says WR Josh Downs ‘Ready to Go’ vs Jaguars Despite Trade Request | Buccaneers Beat Falcons 16-0 Without Completing a Pass, First Time Since 1974 Bills
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
