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WATCH: NFL insider shoots down Josh Jacobs trade rumors

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery08/07/22

Many NFL fans were surprised in the Raiders vs. Jaguars preseason game that the Raiders’ coaching staff decided to roll their best running back out early in the game, former Alabama star Josh Jacobs. On Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained why they made that move and he also made clear that the franchise has no plans of trading their star tailback.

“My understanding is the Raiders are not trying to trade Josh Jacobs and are not planning on trading Josh Jacobs. All of those things. He is, as of right now, their best running back and rarely do you see teams look to trade their best player at any position. Let alone someone who is due just, I believe it’s $2.1 million this year. So, if they wanted to, I imagine somebody would trade for Josh Jacobs, but this is a team that’s built to win. It is a team that’s going to be in the playoff mix. They are not looking to and do not plan to trade Josh Jacobs at all,” Rapoport said.

Quietly, Jacobs has established himself as one of the more consistently producing running backs in the NFL. He’s racked up the fifth most yards in the league since 2019 and continues to be one of the more underrated tailbacks in the game today.

Even after a promising start to his career, the Raiders opted not to pick up his fifth-year option. It was a bit of a surprising move, especially since Jacobs owns the franchise record for the most rushing yards in his first two seasons (2,215 rushing yards). For his career thus far in the Silver and Black, the talented tailback has already piled up 3,087 total rushing yards and 752 receiving yards.

Rapoport then explained why the Raiders’ coaching staff decided to play Jacobs in the preseason. “Really what this is, is they wanted to get a look at him. They wanted to have him play in preseason. Josh McDaniels comes from the Bill Belichick school of preseason snaps. Which is stop trying to figure it out. Sometimes they just want to see guys in different positions. Want them to get game reps. That was the sense here. Obviously, Josh Jacobs has a lot to prove. Did not get his fifth-year option picked up by this new regime. But no, they’re not looking to move on from him. They want him to play for them and play well,” Rapoport said.

Jacobs began his NFL career on a high note, rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He then earned a Pro Bowl appearance in 2020 after he ran for his second straight 1,000-yard campaign, also adding 12 touchdowns. This past season, Jacobs rushed for just 872 yards with nine touchdowns.

During his three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he piled up 1,491 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, he hauled in 48 catches for 571 receiving yards and five rushing touchdowns.

On3’s Jonathan Wagner also contributed to this article.