Josh Jacobs staying in contact with former teammate Henry Ruggs III
The friendship between Josh Jacobs and Henry Ruggs III goes beyond their time together on the Las Vegas Raiders. The two were also college teammates in 2017 and 2018 at Alabama, winning a national championship together.
So when Ruggs was released from Las Vegas earlier this month, it was strange for Jacobs. He felt like something was missing.
“With Henry especially, seeing everything around that whole week reminded me of him,” Jacobs said. “He’d be right next to me in stretch. We’d go over offense or defense, and he’s right next to me. I’ve spent the last five years with him. I definitely had a deeper emotional (bond) with that. It made coming to practice weird. It made being around people weird for me.”
Ruggs was involved in a DUI crash that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Tina Tintor, along with her dog, Max. The former receiver is accused of driving 156 miles per hour through a suburban area, miles away from the Las Vegas strip. His speedometer read 127 mph when airbags deployed. In addition, Ruggs’ blood alcohol level read .161, more than twice the legal limit. Police found a loaded gun inside the car.
Probation is not an option for a conviction of DUI causing death in Nevada. The charge carries a possible sentence of between two and 20 years in prison. The possible sentence for reckless driving is between one and six years in prison, with probation possible. In all, Ruggs is looking at a maximum sentence of 46 years in prison.
For Jacobs, that is tough to swallow. He knows what Ruggs did was wrong, but he also knows Ruggs better than most people. He is close with the family. It’s a difficult situation, but Jacobs has decided to stand by his friend, checking in on him while he is on house arrest.
“I’ve been over there a couple times to his house and talked to him and his family,” Jacobs said, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I kept in contact with all of them throughout the whole process. . . . I know everybody. I’ve been knowing everybody. So it was definitely emotional for me.”
It was actually the receiver who offered Josh Jacobs advice ahead of a Week 9 matchup against the Giants, the first without Henry Ruggs.
“I tried to come out the next game in New York and just play,” Jacobs said. “I kinda got emotional before that game, but once I stepped on the field, I was just like, ‘I’m gonna put it all on the line.’ It was probably my best game this year. So yeah, just trying to get back to football and the love of the game.”
Jacobs finished with a season-high 76 yards rushing while adding 19 yards receiving on four catches in that game.
With Ruggs future in football seemingly over, Jacobs will continue to do his best to move on. The Raiders (5-4) are still very much alive in the race for the AFC West division title.
The Raiders face Cincinnati at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday in Las Vegas.