Although it was reported former Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch was planning to retire for the second time, it appears his status remains fluid this offseason.
Lynch played out the final season of a two-year deal he signed with Oakland prior to the 2017 NFL season. Aside from some high praise from head coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders have not given any indication that they planned to bring him back.
As a result, the veteran reportedly decided to hang up his cleats once again. Despite his recent decision, it seems that he is still open to returning for one more season.
According to NFL Network’s Steve Wyche, Lynch is reportedly interested in coming back if the Raiders want him:
Source: If the Raiders want him, RB Marshawn Lynch would return.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 1, 2019
The prospect of Lynch coming out of retirement a second time does not seem too far-fetched. His desire to help bring a championship to Oakland is what inspired him to come out of retirement the first time around and it is safe to say that he would love nothing more than to be a part of the team’s final season in his hometown.
Unfortunately, the Raiders have already proceeded with their new plans for the backfield. They used one of their first-rounders to take Josh Jacobs in the 2019 NFL Draft while re-signing Doug Martin after Isaiah Crowell went down with a torn Achilles.
Martin largely served as the complementary option to Lynch in the backfield last year. Regardless, taking Jacobs in the first round essentially guarantees that Gruden is looking groom him as their future workhorse back.
If the Raiders are looking to do everything they can to make their last season in Oakland special, signing Lynch would certainly make sense from a morale standpoint.
