The Oakland Raiders are heading into Week 2 fresh off a victory against a highly-touted Tennessee Titans team. Oakland’s 26-16 victory over Tennessee reaffirmed the beliefs of many that they should be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender during the 2017 NFL season.
One of the biggest question marks heading into the season was Marshawn Lynch and how much he would be able to provide after coming out of retirement. Prior to Week 1, the running back had not seen a snap since the 2015 NFL season and there was cause for concern as to how he might look on the field.
Lynch quickly silenced any doubt, as the veteran carried the ball 18 times for 76 rushing yards. While his running style was on full display, so were some of his antics as he was caught on camera flipping off the Titans’ defense. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL has decided to slap Lynch with a fine:
NFL fined Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch $12,000 for a hand gesture he made Sunday, per a league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2017
The gesture came during the fourth quarter where the Raiders were up on the Titans and looking to pull away. Lynch has not been shy about expressing himself and this is just the latest incident for the 31-year-old Oakland native.
While the team will likely address Lynch and the situation, it should not displace any optimism after his performance in Week 1. Oakland’s backfield was lacking the same firepower the receiving corps had during the 2016 NFL season, but Lynch appears ready to fill that void. All gestures aside, Lynch looks poised to lead the Raiders’ ground game for the rest of the year.