Offseason workouts for all 32 NFL teams have officially begun, but for the Las Vegas Raiders, they are missing one key member of their team.
Josh Jacobs will not be in attendance for the workouts as he has yet to sign the franchise tender that the Raiders placed on him back in March. Las Vegas made the costly decision not to pick up the fifth year on Jacobs’ rookie contract, and the running back responded by having his best statistical season in the NFL.
The 2022 rushing yards leader has been holding out over the offseason in hopes of reaching a long-term extension with the Raiders, though the two sides have yet to make any ground. Paying running backs lucrative second deals is generally avoided in the league, but Jacobs certainly made the case that deserves a sizable pay raise.
Although the Alabama product isn’t with Las Vegas working out with his teammates, he has still been busy keeping himself in shape. Jacobs was recently seen squatting an impressive 550 pounds via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network:
Reigning NFL rushing champ Josh Jacobs hasn’t signed his franchise tender with the #Raiders. But he is casually squatting 550 pounds. pic.twitter.com/ltyImikcMH
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 9, 2023
The dedication to continue working on his body is a large reason why Jacobs has gotten to where he is in the league so far. The strength training has paid off as he was second behind only Derrick Henry in 2022 with 31 forced missed tackles.
Keeping up with his strength and conditioning regimen should only help Jacobs secure the deal he desires, either with the Raiders or with another team. Las Vegas has until July 17th to work out a deal with their star running back, so talks should pick up closer to that date.
Without Jacobs, the Silver and Black have gotten a chance to see more from Zamir White and Brittain Brown. The two second-year backs could be thrust into larger roles should things not work out with Jacobs.
Josh Jacobs posts cryptic tweet
While fans must be happy to see Jacobs staying in shape, they also have to feel nervous about his future with the team. There hasn’t been much headway made in contract negotiations, which could signal that the two sides are heading for a divorce.
Jacobs hasn’t been very subtle about his displeasure with his situation, and he stirred the pot even more when he took to Twitter to post a cryptic message that seems to suggest his holdout isn’t just for him but for future players at the position.
