Raiders RB Josh Jacobs sending a message with minicamp absence
Mandatory minicamp began for the Las Vegas Raiders on June 7, 2022, and one very noticeable player was absent from the start. Let’s go over the implications here.
Josh Jacobs, the starting running back of the Las Vegas Raiders, was absent on the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Jacobs was also not in the facility for the Raiders’ offseason voluntary program which would not be as concerning if he had shown up for minicamp. There has been no clarification as of yet if Jacobs has sustained an injury or if this is a planned holdout.
Jacobs has had a productive three seasons with the Raiders however entering his fourth season with a new head coach, Josh McDaniels, Jacobs found himself without a fifth-year extension in place.
Speculation around Jacobs’ absence at minicamp suggests he is not happy about playing in his fourth year without a new deal in place.
In 2022 Jacobs is scheduled to make $3.7 million which isn’t too bad however if he is eyeing other running backs’ contracts, such as James Conner of the Arizona Cardinals ($21 million over three years) his indifference towards minicamp could make sense.
Conner had less rushing and comparable receiving yards as Jacobs but with four more touchdowns; 15 compared to Jacobs’ 9. The difference between the two is not overly significant however Connor is making an average annual salary of $7 million.
The fact of the matter is Jacobs is coming off his worst season after missing three games due to injury and his lowest average yards per run at 4.0, ranking him 36th out of all the running backs in the NFL.
Jacobs was ranked 9th out of the league’s backs after finding the endzone nine times. Jacobs still failed to reach 1,000 rushing yards despite 217 attempts (11th of all backs). It should be noted Jacobs did this behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, and minor improvements have been made to the line since the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Jacobs finds himself in a system similar to the New England Patriots where the offense operates in a running back “by committee” style where the offense is not dependent upon one running back but expects productivity from multiple runners.
The Raiders have a plethora of running backs including Brandon Bolden, Kenyan Drake, Ameer Abdullah, and their newest acquisition; third-round selection Zamir White from Georgia.
Josh Jacobs is slated to be an integral part of the offense, likely the best offense of Derek Carr’s career, but if Jacobs opts to hold out and not participate it is likely he will be traded or replaced.
The best-case scenario for the Raiders and Jacobs would be if Jacobs rejoins his teammates on his current deal and has his best season yet.
A breakthrough season could set Jacobs up for an extension despite not receiving his fifth-year option (none of the 1st round picks from 2019 did) or at least improve his chances on the open market for 2023.
A holdout for 2022 does not do Josh Jacobs or the Las Vegas Raiders any good. We will pay close attention to the situation and hope for the best.