Las Vegas Raiders held three tryouts for players who would all be good in a role the team desperately needs
The Las Vegas Raiders need a third running back with some experience, and James Robinson and the two others they worked out could be it.
The Las Vegas Raiders are exploring the veteran running back market during training camp, bringing in three experienced backs to compete for a spot on the 90-man roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they brought in Kenny McIntosh, Dare Ogunbowale, and James Robinson.
Each brings a different skill set, but the tryout signals a clear need at the position as Las Vegas figures out what its backfield depth will look like behind its top two options.
James Robinson’s resume speaks for itself
Robinson is the most accomplished of the three. The former undrafted free agent burst onto the scene in 2020 as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns. He followed that up in 2021 with 700 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns, then added 400 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022. Across 40 career games with the Jaguars, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers, Robinson has compiled 2,200 rushing yards and 18 career rushing touchdowns.
Robinson has dealt with significant knee issues, which is the primary reason teams have moved off him in recent years. He doesn’t have the same explosiveness he once did, but the production he put on tape early in his career is hard to ignore for a team looking for a reliable third option.
Gumbawale and McIntosh round out the tryout group
Ogunbowale has been in the league since 2017 and spent the last four years with the Houston Texans. He’s appeared in 114 career games, amassing 594 career rushing yards and 5 career rushing touchdowns. His value in Houston was never about carrying the ball, though. Ogunbowale carved out a role as a special teams contributor and third-down back who could help in the passing game.
Kenny McIntosh is the least well-known of the trio, but that doesn’t mean he lacks talent. A former seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, McIntosh has played 20 career games with the Seattle Seahawks, totaling 170 career rushing yards with no touchdowns. He’s still young enough to develop, though he hasn’t shown much at the NFL level yet.
Why the Raiders need a veteran at the position
Las Vegas has Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington as its one-two punch in the backfield. That much is settled. After those two, the depth chart gets thin. Dylan Lauby projects as a special teams contributor, and Roman Hemby is an undrafted free agent rookie still trying to find his footing. The Raiders could keep three or four running backs on the final roster, and the question becomes whether that third spot should go to a veteran or one of the younger options.
The answer probably has to be a veteran. If something happens to Jeanty or Washington, you want the next man up to have experience and know what the role demands. A young, unproven back stepping into meaningful snaps during the regular season is a risk this roster doesn’t need to take.
If it comes down to one of these three, Robinson makes the most sense. His knees are a legitimate concern, and he won’t be the same player who dominated as a rookie. But as a third back who can handle a handful of carries and provide stability in the room, he’s the most proven option of the group. The Raiders haven’t made a decision yet, and training camp will sort this out over the coming days. Robinson, Ogunbowale, and McIntosh all get a chance to prove they belong.