Josh Jacobs, the star running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, has confirmed his return to the team for the upcoming season. Making the announcement on social media with the simple statement, “I’m back,” Jacobs has agreed to a one-year contract with the Raiders. The deal is reportedly worth up to $12 million, as per an anonymous source familiar with the agreement.
The Raiders officially announced Jacobs’ signing, although they refrained from disclosing the specific terms of the contract. If Jacobs had chosen to sign the franchise tag tender, he would have been set to earn $10.1 million for the season. Interestingly, the structure of Jacobs’ new contract seems to mirror that of Saquon Barkley, another prominent running back who recently agreed to a similar deal with the New York Giants.
Last season, Jacobs showcased his prowess on the field, leading the NFL with an impressive 1,653 rushing yards. While many anticipated his return to the Raiders, the delay in finalizing the contract led to speculations. However, with the recent announcement, all uncertainties have been put to rest.
Previously, Jacobs had expressed his dissatisfaction with the idea of playing under a franchise tag. He even mentioned during the Pro Bowl that he felt like transitioning from a “hero” to a “villain.” Now that both parties have reached a consensus, Jacobs can concentrate on the upcoming season, where the Raiders are expected to rely heavily on his skills.
Josh McDaniels, the Las Vegas coach, hinted during the training camp that Jacobs might be given a workload similar to the previous season. This would mean almost 400 touches, combining both rushing and receiving. Given the importance of practice sessions for players to get back into the groove, Jacobs might be gradually reintroduced to the field. However, with the season opener against the Denver Broncos just two weeks away, Jacobs should have ample time to get back in form.
The return of Jacobs provides a clearer picture of the team’s strategy, especially with the NFL’s cutdown day approaching. On this day, teams are required to reduce their rosters to 53 players. During the training camp, Zamir White, last year’s fourth-round pick, was the primary running back and seemed poised for a more significant role than his rookie year. Meanwhile, Ameer Abdullah, a nine-year veteran, was the second in line.
Jacobs had been keen on securing a multi-year contract. However, since no agreement was reached with the Raiders before the July 17 deadline, his options were limited. He could either sign the franchise tag tender, agree to a separate one-year deal, or opt-out of the season. By settling on the one-year contract, questions about Jacobs’ long-term future with the Raiders will resurface later in the season. For now, though, such discussions are on hold.