The Oakland Raiders offense is currently loaded with an immeasurable amount of talent. From their great offensive line, reliable receiving corps, and dynamic backfield comprised with a great blend of youth and veteran talent, it is hard to imagine how many more weapons the offensive side of the ball can utilize.
Enter fifth-year wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson’s versatility as an offensive weapon allows him to play multiple positions on the field, often times lining up as a wideout or as a running back. Raider fans had their first glimpse of what Patterson is capable last week when he broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run against the New York Jets.
According to Matt Schneidman of Mercury News, head coach Jack Del Rio seems excited to utilize every aspect of Patterson’s diverse skill set:
He’s like a Swiss Army knife. You can throw it to him. You can hand it to him. He can do a lot of different things.”
Patterson signed a two-year contract with the Raiders this past offseason with the option to void the final year of his deal after the 2017 NFL season. However, all signs point to him continuing his success on the offensive side of the ball and as a return specialist with Oakland for the foreseeable future.
He has yet to return a kickoff for a score, but with five return touchdowns under his belt already, he is due to catch opposing special teams off guard at any moment. He will have an opportunity to score in Week 3 during the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Washington Redskins.
