Las Vegas Raiders rookie is already finding himself ahead of schedule at training camp even though it just started
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. for a reason, and he’s proving why.
The Las Vegas Raiders are giving rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. reps with the first team at training camp, and that tells you everything you need to know about how Klint Kubiak wants to run this offense.
According to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, the fourth-round pick out of Arkansas has been working with both the first and second team during camp. That’s not a sign that something is wrong with the depth chart. It’s a sign that the Raiders are serious about building the two-back system Kubiak has talked about since taking the job.
Ashton Jeanty is still the guy
There’s no question about who the No. 1 running back is in Las Vegas. Ashton Jeanty was the No. 6 overall pick last year, and while his rookie stat line might suggest he struggled, the context says otherwise. He finished with just under 1,000 rushing yards and 1,300 all-purpose yards behind the worst offensive line in football on the worst offense in football. Those numbers look a lot different with even average blocking.
Kubiak has made it clear he wants a 1-2 punch in the backfield. That’s been the plan for some time now. Washington is the perfect fit for that complementary role, and getting him reps with the ones is part of building it the right way.
Why first-team reps matter for Washington
You don’t want Washington only having chemistry with the twos and the threes. You want him comfortable running behind the starters, catching passes from the first-team quarterback, and understanding how those guys operate. If he’s going to spell Jeanty during games, he needs to be ready to step in without a drop-off in execution.
That doesn’t mean he’s going to take Jeanty off the field too much. If anything, this is about giving Jeanty a chance to breathe. The running back position demands more physical punishment than any other spot on the field, and it’s difficult to stay healthy over a full season. Having a capable backup who can absorb some of that wear and tear is critical for keeping Jeanty fresh.
The Darren McFadden comparisons are real
Washington has already drawn comparisons to former Raiders and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. They share the same height, the same size, and they ran the same 40-yard dash. The similarities are obvious.
Nobody is asking the Raiders to get that kind of production out of Washington. McFadden, when healthy, was a pretty good running back. But the Raiders are asking Washington to be a guy they can rely on with the first team and the second team when needed. He’s going to be a rotational player on this offense, and that role carries real value.
Washington fills a gap no one else on the roster can
Jeanty won’t always be available. He could need rest. He could get hurt. If that happens, the Raiders certainly aren’t relying on Roman Hemby, an undrafted free agent rookie, or Dylan Lauby, a special teams contributor, to carry the load. Washington is built for the wide zone scheme Kubiak wants to run. He’s taller than Jeanty, and while Jeanty can run between the tackles or in a wide-zone look, Washington’s frame makes him a natural fit for the outside-zone concepts.
Him getting this work at training camp is great news for a Raiders offense looking to take a step forward. Washington may have been a fourth-round pick, but the Raiders are clearly high on what he can bring to this backfield.