Raiders News: Josh Jacobs Motivated After Fifth-Year Option Was Not Picked Up

The Las Vegas Raiders offense looks to be one of the most electric on paper after the addition of Davante Adams, but they’ll still need to establish the run if they want to unlock the full potential of their receiving corps.

Josh Jacobs is slated to lead the Raiders backfield, and there’s no denying his talent as a runner and pass catcher. The 2021 season represented a bit of a down year as he only mustered 872 rushing yards, but he did improve his receiving numbers after reeling in 54 catches for 348 yards.

While Jacobs has been a staple for Las Vegas’ offense, the team decided to decline the fifth year on his rookie deal which means he will hit free agency next spring. However, the running back took no offense and instead used it as motivation to work harder this offseason via Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk:

“I’m a firm believer in the work that you put in is going to pay off for itself,” said Jacobs. “I had to be here either way. And this is where I want to be, so I didn’t have no problem with it. It just gave me more reason to come in every day and gel with the guys and work, so that’s how I looked at it.”

It sounds like Jacobs is taking his situation in stride, a good sign for the Raiders that his next contract won’t be a distraction during the 2022 season. Even though there is plenty of depth behind Jacobs, he should have no issue taking the bulk of the work though new head coach Josh McDaniels will likely try to find time for the other backs on the roster.

With so many weapons on offense, it’s hard to imagine Jacobs having another down year. His future with the Silver and Black may be in doubt, but he figures to be a key piece for them during the upcoming year.