Josh Jacobs was one of the best running backs in the NFL last season. He was even ranked 12 in the Top 100 Players NFL annual list. However, he and Las Vegas haven’t reached an agreement to extend his contract. Meanwhile, the Raiders are signing veteran RB Damien Williams as a Plan B. That’s in case the worst happens with Jacobs and he leaves the team. The announcement was made by Williams’ agent via social media.
“Damien’s a guy we worked out earlier in training camp who was in shape. He’s had a productive career, he’s a good football player, he’s smart, he’s tough. So, we were interested in him honestly before that,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels told reporters Friday, confirming the addition ahead of Sunday’s preseason game against the 49ers.
“But when you start to get a little low at a number here and you’ve got to play a game — and really we’re gonna play two in six days, along with another two competitive practices — just trying to make sure that at each spot we can. We’re kind of healthy, as healthy as we can be going into this stretch of days, which is gonna be an important one,” he concluded.
Jacobs has not signed the tag and remained away from the team throughout the offseason, and Williams’ signing suggests the Raiders aren’t close to bridging the existing gap with Jacobs. Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden are among those on the roster at the moment, and the addition of Williams gives the Raiders another option to consider in Jacobs’ absence.
Damien Williams
The running back entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent, out of Oklahoma. He spent his first four seasons playing for the Miami Dolphins. In 2018 he joined the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won Super Bowl LIV in 2019. After three seasons there (he opted out of 2020 season), he played one year for the Chicago Bears (2021) and one for the Atlanta Falcons (2022).
In eight seasons played in the NFL so far, Damien Williams totals 98 games. He recorded 336 carries, 1,397 yards and 14 touchdowns during that time. He also has 154 catches for 1,209 yards and 11 TDs. His best personal season was in 2019, the year he won the Super Bowl. He had 111 carries, 498 yards and five touchdowns, all career-highs.
