Josh Jacobs makes contract stance clear with message to Las Vegas Raiders

24 July 2023 , 15:07

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Josh Jacobs will reportedly not attend the first day of training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders (Image: Chris Unger/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders star Josh Jacobs will reportedly not be part of the first day of training camp.

The NFL running back was handed a £7.9million ($10.1m) franchise tag by the Raiders. Jacobs had until July 17 to be able to sign the one-year contract, but no agreement could be agreed.

Jacobs can now no longer sign a long-term contract with the Raiders until the 2024 off-season at the earliest. It’s now unclear what the future holds for Jacobs with the Raiders, although there has been an update.

NFL Network is reporting that Jacobs will not attend the first day of training camp on Tuesday. July 25 marks the first day that players not in their rookie season will attend training camp ahead of the pre-season schedule.

It’s been reported that Jacobs was seen boarding a flight leaving Las Vegas on Monday, the day before training camp begins. The article adds that Jacobs has informed those close to him that he does not intend to return to the team anytime soon.

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Due to Jacobs not signing his franchise tag, he cannot be fined if he misses practice or games. The running back led the NFL in 2022 for the most rushing yards with 1,653 yards, along with 12 touchdowns and 340 carries.

ESPN reported that Jacobs was part of a Zoom call featuring his fellow running backs from across the NFL. Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb, San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey, Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry and New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley all attended the call.

Josh Jacobs did not sign his franchise tag with the Las Vegas Raiders (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

Barkley is in a similar position to Jacobs with the Giants, after he was handed a franchise tag that he did not sign before the deadline. And the call was made amid growing concerns around the running back position in the NFL.

Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams recently spoke about Jacobs’ importance to the team. Adams revealed that he used his own experience in his career to offer advice to Jacobs.

"If we really want to have a shot at winning the Super Bowl and having all the elite aspirations that we do, we're gonna need that guy," Adams told .

"So I'm praying that we can still figure something out, but also understanding where Josh is coming from and trying to coach him through it at the same time.

Adams added: "I've been talking to him, we've been in his ear a little bit just trying to coach him through this process.

"I've been through it a couple times myself and I know what it's like to go back and forth about whether or not you feel appreciated."

Mark Wakefield