The Jacksonville Jaguars just made a trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire running back Carlos Hyde.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are known much more for their defense than their offense. Hence, the nickname “Sacksonville” as well as the reason the Jags were in the AFC Championship Game last year.
But even still, you can’t win without at least a competent offense. The last two weeks, the Jaguars offense hasn’t been very effective, only scoring a total of 21 points in two games, both losses on the road at Kansas City and Dallas.
Much of that may be due to the absence of star running back Leonard Fournette, who has been out of action with an injury since Week 4. But the Jaguars just made a trade with the Cleveland Browns to send running back Carlos Hyde, Cleveland’s current rushing leader, to Jacksonville.
With Hyde now joining a group of running backs that includes T.J. Yeldon, David Williams and the newly-signed Jamaal Charles, he might be able to help get this Jags offense moving again. Regardless, the Jaguars need some kind of boost, because Blake Bortles isn’t the kind of quarterback that can get an offense moving all on his own, like a Tom Brady, or an Aaron Rodgers or a Peyton Manning.
Hyde can help get those wheels spinning. Before being traded, he was the leading rusher for the Browns with 382 total yards and five touchdowns.
The Jaguars have a very important game coming up in Week 7: a home game against their AFC South rival Houston Texans. Houston has won three straight games, while the Jags have lost back-to-back games on the road. This game at home might be exactly what they need right now to snap out of this funk.
There will be a lot on the line though, as Jacksonville, Houston, and the Tennessee Titans are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the division.
If Hyde can come in and make an impact right away, he could help get the Jaguars back on the right path to the playoffs.