The Las Vegas Raiders have taken proactive measures to address the uncertainty surrounding their primary running back situation. According to his agent, veteran running back Damien Williams has been signed by the Raiders, providing them with additional insurance. This development comes as a result of the Raiders’ inability to reach a long-term agreement with their leading rusher from last season, Josh Jacobs, who is currently holding out from camp. Jacobs, who chose not to sign his franchise tag worth nearly $10.1 million, can continue to hold out without financial penalties. However, if his holdout extends into the regular season, he stands to lose approximately $560,000 per game.
It is worth noting that Jacobs is not the only running back who has refrained from signing an extension with his team. Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys are among those who find themselves in a similar situation. Jacobs had an outstanding 2022 season, leading the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653 and scoring 12 touchdowns. He was also recognized as a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career. His overall record with the Raiders includes 60 games played, 4,740 rushing yards, and 40 rushing touchdowns.
With regards to Damien Williams, he has accumulated 2,606 yards from scrimmage over the course of his eight-year career. It is worth noting that Jacobs surpassed this number last season with his NFL-leading 2,053 scrimmage yards. If Jacobs were to proceed with his holdout into the regular season, he would be following a strategy employed by Le’Veon Bell in 2018. Bell, who signed the franchise tag with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, made the decision to sit out the entire 2018 season by refusing to sign the tag.
Interestingly, Bell has voiced his admiration for Jacobs, praising his skills as a running back. Bell recently stated, “Running backs, guys like… Josh Jacobs… those guys obviously take the bulk of the carries. They literally do everything. They’re blocking, protecting the quarterback who is earning millions of dollars. Additionally, they run routes out of the backfield, creating mismatches against linebackers and safeties for the quarterback.” Bell emphasizes the value and versatility provided by running backs, despite their often underappreciated role in offenses.
In terms of Williams’ career, he achieved Super Bowl success with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Williams spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Chiefs for two years. In 2021, he played eight games for the Chicago Bears, followed by one game for the Atlanta Falcons the following year.
Overall, the addition of Damien Williams to the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster serves as valuable insurance while Josh Jacobs remains absent from camp due to his contract dispute. The Raiders are making a proactive move to ensure their running back position remains solid and secure, even in the face of uncertainty.
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