In June, Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Yeldon was asked about buzz that he’d be the team’s starting running back in 2015 and said that he put himself at the bottom rung of the depth chart.
Yeldon’s June perception doesn’t meet the reality of the depth chart that the Jaguars released for this week’s game against the Steelers. Jacksonville lists Yeldon alongside Denard Robinson as the team’s starter.
These charts are unofficial, of course, but there’s not much surprise that a player offensive coordinator Greg Olson has referred to as a three-down back has climbed over the likes of Bernard Pierce and Toby Gerhart since being selected in the second round this year. Both of those players are coming off of dismal years and the team was obviously hoping for an upgrade when they took Yeldon.
Robinson led the team with 582 rushing yards last season and has shown he has a role in an NFL offense after transitioning from playing quarterback at Michigan. That role isn’t the every down one that they’re talking about Yeldon filling, however, and no one’s likely to be shocked if Yeldon’s the only name on the top line come September.