Raiders running back Josh Jacobs did not participate in Wednesday’s practice

Because the Las Vegas Raiders are playing on Saturday, this week of practices is slightly different than normal. On Wednesday, the team held a walkthrough, with running back Josh Jacobs listed on the injury report as “did not participate.”

With the Raiders sitting at 6-10 and eliminated from playoff contention, it would make sense to sit the starters and not risk them getting injured in the last game of the season.

But, Jacobs has a chance to do something special, claim the NFL’s rushing title. Heading into Week 18, he has 1,608 total rushing yards this season. Behind him is Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb with 1,448, a difference of 160 yards.

Coach Josh McDaniels said they’ll have to see how this week goes for the team’s lead rusher.

“We’ll be smart with him obviously,” McDaniels said. “Look, I’m not sure how many more words I can find to describe what he’s done – tough, dependable, prepared really hard every week, he’s been durable. He’s had the ball more than any other player on our team clearly, and he’s really done a great job of keeping himself healthy and available all season long even though he’s been banged up a number of different times. [He’s] unselfish, does what he whatever he can to help the team win. I’ve said it a number of times how I feel about him, and that hasn’t changed.”

As for the rushing title, McDaniels knows individual accolades are great for the players who achieve them, but it’s also important to look at how Josh Jacobs got to this point.

“I think the biggest part for us is obviously understanding that they never get done alone,” McDaniels said. “There’s a lot of people that have obviously factored into that, the success of any one individual. So, I think it’s actually a neat thing for the team not just for one guy, because even though one player would get that recognition, I think the recognition belongs to a lot of people that have done some things to help him achieve that. So, we’ll see how it goes, some good players obviously chasing him, we know that. And again, we’ll see how his health goes the next few days.”

Walked himself right into the endzone 🚶🚶

📺 FOX | @iAM_JoshJacobs pic.twitter.com/F65NUHhhoL

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 2, 2023

Another player recently broke a Raiders franchise record that has stood since 1997. In Sunday’s loss to the 49ers, Davante Adams became the Raiders’ new single-season receiving yards record-holder. McDaniels said it didn’t surprise him that Adams did this in his first year with the team.

“It’s an incredible achievement, and obviously we know whose record he broke,” McDaniels said, referring to Tim Brown. “I mean, he hasn’t missed a practice, like literally very few reps the entire year. So, to put in that kind of work and that kind of effort and that kind of dedication to his craft when he’s already achieved whatever he’s achieved prior to being here, I think that just speaks to how incredible the person is. And he’s been that way every day that we’ve been with him.”

Our newest franchise record holder, @tae15adams 🏅 pic.twitter.com/f2ckknHlLn

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 2, 2023

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