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Raiders: It is time for Josh Jacobs to take the next step forward

By Nicholas Yacenko

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 15: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders hands the ball off the Josh Jacobs #28 in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 15: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders hands the ball off the Josh Jacobs #28 in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) runs during the second quarter in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) runs during the second quarter in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

The Las Vegas Raiders have a strong running back room in 2022, but Josh Jacobs needs to step up and take his game to the next level.

When Josh Jacobs was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Raiders it was already a questionable choice simply because running backs are not highly valued in the draft and Jacobs would have likely been available in the 2nd round. Nevertheless, former head coach Jon Gruden became infatuated with Jacobs and his early selection was justified because Jacobs would be a workhorse back.

However, Jacobs has been anything but a workhorse because he could not stay healthy. During his rookie season, Jacobs looked borderline dominant before fracturing his shoulder and losing steam.

He later missed 3 games but simply wasn’t the same. However, in 13 games, Jacobs exceeded 1,100 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and looked well on his way to being a top running back in the NFL. Unfortunately, Jacobs has been unable to reach those heights again.

In 2020, Jacobs played in 15 games but was constantly hindered by the nagging ankle and knee injuries, but still managed to eclipse 1,000 yards. However, a deeper look will show a lack of explosion considering he had fewer yards on more carries as well as only having his longest run be 28 yards, after having multiple big runs his rookie season.

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