Jaguars' Snoop Conner, Ryquell Armstead, Mekhi Sargent compete for third running back spot

One of the best battles in the Jaguars training camp is for the third running back spot.

This assumes two things: Travis Etienne continues to be the camp standout he's been and James Robinson, the team's leading rusher over the past two seasons, keeps progressing with his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury late last season and is able to play opening day.

Given that set of circumstances, rookie Snoop Conner, third-year veteran Ryquell Armstead and second-year veteran Mekhi Sargent will continue their competition in Thursday's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (8 p.m., NBC) in Canton, Ohio.

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Robinson still isn't ready for full pads and Etienne was ruled out by coach Doug Pederson as one of the starters who won't see action -- along with quarterback Trevor Lawrence -- even before it was revealed that Etienne missed practice on Tuesday with an unspecified illness.

That presents even more opportunities for Conner, Armstead and Sargent. Based on the depth chart the team released on Monday, Conner will start.

"Those guys have done a great job," said offensive coordinator Press Taylor. "They're all competing. They all have a little different skill set that we're trying to figure out what fits best."

Robinson injury provides opportunity

Taylor said it's not the ideal situation to have Robinson, who has run for 1,837 yards in two years and posted the second-best rushing mark in NFL history for an undrafted free-agent rookie in 2020, still working on the side.

But there are still 39 days to go before the opening game on Sept. 11 at Washington, so Robinson has plenty of time to continue his rehab.

In the meantime, Conner, Armstead and Sargent are taking advantage of the increased workload.

"It gives those guys another chance to get more live reps," Taylor said. "They'll get a great opportunity to get carries, protect, catch the ball, all the situations you want to see."

Armstead, the most seasoned veteran of the players competing for the third spot, loves the challenge -- and the teammates he's trying to beat out.

"This room is talented and gifted," he said of the running backs. "They only making me better."

Conner showing a burst

If there was a turning point in the battle it might have been Monday, the second day in full pads. Conner hit holes with a burst, glided through and was elusive in the open field. He scored a touchdown during a goal-line period and showed his athleticism and hands when he had to leap high for a screen pass that Jake Luton sailed too high.

"I've been practicing good but I want to say today was probably my best day," Conner said.

Pederson was a bit more reserved.

"It was one day," he said. "But it was a good day. Now it's about how you stack days back-to-back-to-back, and that's what being a professional is all about. But we like where he's at, his progression."

Conner said his playing in Lane Kiffin's unconventional pass-oriented offense at Ole Miss prepared him for the NFL in one regard in particular: he's very good at pass protection.

"In Lane Kiffin's [offense] ... we were taught how to pick up blitzes," he said. "We were focused on protecting Matt Corral. It just translates over to the NFL."

Conners said the biggest difference between college and the NFL is the speed of the game.

"The holes open quickly and close quickly," he said.

So far, he's getting to the openings.

Armstead recovered from myocarditis

Armstead has the edge from being a veteran. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round in 2019 out of Temple and played behind Leonard Fournette. But Armstead had his moments, most notably a touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew against Denver in which Minshew scrambled for a few seconds, then found Armstead with a desperation heave in the end zone.

Armstead then had a challenging two years. He missed all of 2020 because of the effects of a severe bout of COVID-19, which led to a bout of myocarditis.

He was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants in May of 2021, cut training camp, signed by New Orleans to its practice squad in October, plucked by Green Bay a month later, then signed by the Jags Dec. 22, four days before the injury to Robinson.

Armstead played a key role in the Jags' season-ending victory over Indianapolis, gaining 52 yards on the ground and catching two passes for 10 years.

Given the challenges he faced getting back into football, Armstead is thankful for every day he can put on a uniform -- even the hot, humid days in August.

"I'm blessed to come out here every day and compete," he said. "When I come to the practice field I don't look at it as a field anymore. I look at it as my home. I'm happy, energetic."

Sargent, a native of Key West who scored 20 career touchdowns at Iowa, spent time with Tennessee and the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 before being claimed off waivers by the Jags the day after Robinson was hurt. He had one carry for 2 yards against the Colts in his only appearance.

If any of the backs stick, they'll likely have to play special teams. If that's a factor then the only other running back on the roster, Nathan Cottrell, has an edge because he has been an enthusiastic and willing performer on special teams. Cottrell, from Georgia Tech, returned seven kickoffs in 2020 and has eight special-teams tackles in the past two seasons.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' running back room filled with players vying to be third option