All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs, along with receiver Davante Adams, was the engine for the Las Vegas Raiders offense last season. He led the entire NFL in rushing yards but was hit with the franchise tag in the offseason and thus sat out the entirety of training camp.
But Jacobs and the Raiders were finally able to work out a one-year deal to bring him back just in time for the Raiders’ regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos. And while for many, it was a return to the locker room for Jacobs, it was a first-time meeting for Jimmy Garoppolo.
The new Raiders quarterback has never played with Jacobs or been around him, and his first experience was a positive one. Garoppolo spoke about the energy and vibe that Jacobs brings to the locker room and how the rest of the team was so much more excited with him back in the building via Aidan Champion of Sports Illustrated:
“I mean, there was a different vibe in the building yesterday when he came back,” Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said when he joined “NFL Total Access” on Tuesday. “Just, guys were in high spirits. This was my first time meeting Josh, but he is a high-energy guy. Just, really was excited to be back. And I’m glad it all worked out for him. He got what he wanted, we got him back and one of our brothers is back in the locker room.
“So, it will be exciting to get to work with him. The dude’s a hell of a player, man. I mean, his play speaks for itself. But yeah, we got some work to do.”
Some of that energy in the locker room likely has to do with the Raiders feeling whole again with their star running back in the building. Jacobs, Garoppolo, and the Raiders as a whole are coming into this season with a chip on their shoulder and a lot to prove.
For Jacobs, it is about proving he is deserving of a long-term contract and that last season was no fluke. For Garoppolo, it is about proving the doubters wrong and showing he is a great quarterback in this league. And for the Raiders team, they are looking to show they are a competitive team who can make a push to the playoffs, and that starts this Sunday in Denver, where they will look to put the rest of the NFL on notice.
