When the Las Vegas Raiders veterans report to training camp on July 25, running back Josh Jacobs isn’t expected to join them. He’s going to mull over his next move in a contract impasse with the front office.
Keep in mind that the Raiders can’t sign Jacobs to a new contract until next offseason. As of right now, they don’t even know if the 2022 rushing champion will be back with them for the 2023 season.
Though Jacobs should take Le’Veon Bell’s admission of his mistake into account, the 25-year-old may see his short-term future panning out differently if he decides to sit out:
Related: Will Saquon Barkley Or Josh Jacobs Hold Out?
Jacobs would take a huge risk in missing games while running backs struggle to secure lucrative contracts. A running back who forfeits one year of his prime wouldn’t increase his stock on a down market. Jacobs will likely skip training camp since the Raiders cannot fine an unsigned player for missing summer practices.
While it seems likely that Jacobs will show up a week or two before the Raiders’ regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on September 10, no one knows for sure.
In the meantime, the Raiders’ backup running backs have a golden opportunity to show why they deserve more touches in the upcoming season.
Don’t expect head coach Josh McDaniels to feed 30-year-old Ameer Abdullah or 33-year-old Brandon Bolden more carries if Jacobs doesn’t return to the team. So, let’s take a look at the young talent on the roster who will have a chance to prove themselves with the starters this summer.
Related: 2023 Las Vegas Raiders training camp preview
Zamir White
Zamir White is the most obvious beneficiary of Jacobs’ absence. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, which is an indication that he would’ve been the first in line to spell Jacobs if necessary.
McDaniels barely blew the dust off White because Jacobs ran like a man on a mission last year. White recorded just 17 carries for 70 yards, tying Bolden for third in rush attempts on the team.
Before the Raiders’ contract stalemate with Jacobs, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed expected White to handle a bigger workload in the upcoming season, which makes sense considering McDaniels’ history of using multiple running backs.
In limited action, White didn’t show much of a burst going downhill in the preseason or the regular season, but he broke free for a couple of 17-plus-yard runs against the Broncos (Week 4) and Seattle Seahawks (Week 12).
As a collegian, White didn’t play a big role in Georgia’s short passing game, and he finished the 2022 campaign without a catch. While he may be a capable receiver, McDaniels will likely pair him with a natural pass-catcher who doesn’t log a lot of carries. Abdullah seems fit for that role if he makes it through final cuts.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Brittain Brown
Among the Raiders’ backup ball-carriers, Brittan Brown had the most impressive preseason showing, registering 34 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus. Though he did fumble in the second exhibition game against the Minnesota Vikings, the UCLA product forced nine missed tackles in the last two preseason games.
Even though the Raiders selected Brown in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he deserves a little more consideration as someone who could fill Jacobs’ void or share his workload in the upcoming campaign.
At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Brown has a solid build for the position, and he had some bright moments as a receiver at the collegiate level, hauling in 41 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns in five seasons split between Duke and UCLA.
If Brown can replicate what he did last preseason, he may spend more time on the active roster and find a role in the offense regardless of Jacobs’ status. In 2022, Brown appeared in six contests as a special teamer and finished the campaign without a rush attempt.
Austin Walter
Last year, Austin Walter made his presence felt in Vegas’ first two preseason games, recording 15 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t make it through final cuts, but the Raiders stashed him on the practice squad through the 2022 season.
Walter has some live-action experience, though. In 2021, he recorded 26 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown in four appearances with the New York Jets. As a collegian at Rice, Walter put his pass-catching ability on display, hauling in 79 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns.
Walter will turn 27 years old in August, which gives him a slim chance to take on a significant role out of the backfield. However, he may be an alternative option in a third-down pass-catching role behind Abdullah.
Sincere McCormick
Sincere McCormick is the wild card in the running back room. Last offseason, Vegas signed him as an undrafted free agent out of UTSA, but the team placed him on injured reserve about three weeks later.
As a result, McCormick didn’t have an opportunity to showcase himself in the preseason. This year, he’ll have a chance to put himself on the coaching staff’s radar.
In his last two years at UTSA, McCormick had a three-down role as the program’s workhorse running back, racking up 3,261 yards and 26 touchdowns from scrimmage.
Coming out of Conference USA in the collegiate ranks, McCormick will face much tougher competition on the pro level, but he’s equipped to adjust in a complementary role.
At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, McCormick is a stout (not speedy) downhill rusher who’s going to push through contact—think of a bowling ball with legs. If he turns heads in the preseason, his pass-catching skills and ball security may help him move up the depth chart.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.