Josh Jacobs Likely to Miss Season Finale, Raising Questions About His Future with the Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders’ running back, Josh Jacobs, will not be playing in the team’s season finale against the Denver Broncos due to a quad contusion. This marks his fourth consecutive missed game as a result of the injury. While the game itself may not hold much significance for the Raiders, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs with a 7-9 record, Jacobs’ absence is noteworthy as it could potentially be his final game with the franchise.

Uncertainty Surrounding Jacobs’ Future

This is not the first time that Jacobs’ future with the Raiders has been uncertain. Last year, he entered the offseason with his future in Las Vegas up in the air. As it stands, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

In 2022, Jacobs had an outstanding season, leading the league in rushing and scrimmage yards and earning First-Team All-Pro honors. However, despite his impressive performance, the team’s former general manager, Dave Ziegler, and coach, Josh McDaniels, were unwilling to meet his contract demands for a multi-year extension in the following offseason.

When the Raiders decided to use the franchise tag on Jacobs, he refused to sign it and initiated a holdout. He skipped OTAs and training camp before eventually agreeing to a one-year, $11.8 million deal with Las Vegas last August.

Disappointing 2023 Season

The Raiders’ run game in 2023 fell short of expectations. Jacobs recorded a career-low 805 rushing yards, averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry, and missed four games due to injury.

Positive Direction for the Raiders

Although the season did not go as planned for Las Vegas, with Ziegler and McDaniels being fired eight games into the season, interim GM Champ Kelly and interim coach Antonio Pierce have made efforts to steer the team back in a positive direction during the second half of the season. There is a possibility that Kelly and Pierce will be retained for the upcoming season, and there is interest in revisiting contract negotiations with Jacobs.

Options for the Raiders

If the Raiders decide to retain Jacobs, they could choose to use the franchise tag on him. However, this would come with a hefty price tag of at least $14.1 million, which is a significant cap hit for a running back in today’s NFL. If a multi-year contract cannot be agreed upon, it may be more practical for the team to let Jacobs walk.

The Future of Jacobs

It remains uncertain how things will unfold between the Raiders and one of the franchise’s best running backs in history. Zamir White, another running back who has performed well in three games as a starter, could potentially take on the full-time role in 2024. The outcome will largely depend on the decisions made by the team’s next GM and coach, making it a major storyline to watch during the offseason.

Required Reading

(Photo: Steve Marcus / Getty Images)