Arrr! Raiders be signin' a salty ol' sea dog to run with 'em while Josh Jacobs be hidin' his treasure!
2023-08-11
Avast ye! Whilst ol' Josh Jacobs be holdin' out o' trainin' camp, the scurvy Las Vegas Raiders be smartly signin' the likes o' runnin' back Damien Williams. Aye, 'tis a fine bit o' insurance indeed, lest they be sailin' the seas without a proper buccaneer! Arrr!
The Las Vegas Raiders, faced with uncertainty over the status of their primary running back, have signed veteran running back Damien Williams as insurance. This comes as Josh Jacobs, the league's leading rusher last season, is holding out after failing to come to terms on a long-term deal with the team. Jacobs did not sign his franchise tag, worth nearly $10.1 million, which means he can hold out without financial penalties. However, if his holdout extends into the season, he stands to miss out on around $560,000 per game.Jacobs is among several running backs who have not signed extensions with their teams, including Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys. Jacobs had an impressive season in 2022, rushing for a league-leading 1,653 yards and being named a first-team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career. He has played 60 games in his four seasons with the Raiders, accumulating 4,740 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns.
Williams, who has gained 2,606 yards from scrimmage during his eight-year career, is being brought in as a potential replacement for Jacobs. If Jacobs were to take his holdout into the season, it would be reminiscent of Le'Veon Bell's strategy in 2018. Bell, who signed the franchise tag with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 but refused to sign it in 2018, sat out the entire season. While Bell has admitted to regretting his decision, he is a big fan of Jacobs.
Williams, a Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, has previously played for the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons.