Raiders rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. has already done what hadn’t been done since 2017, and he’s only played one preseason game
The Las Vegas Raiders may have found the perfect backup running back in Mike Washington Jr.
The Las Vegas Raiders lost their first preseason game to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, but the loss came with plenty of silver linings.
The biggest takeaway was the debut of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but right behind that was the first real look at what Ashton Jeanty and running back Mike Washington Jr. could look like together in the Raiders’ backfield. Jeanty didn’t play much because he’s a starter and the coaching staff wanted to keep him fresh, but Washington, the fourth-round rookie out of Arkansas, showed up and showed out. In fact, he did something that hasn’t been done in nearly a decade.
Washington’s 53-yard run is the longest by a Raiders player in preseason since 2017
According to Raiders PR, Washington broke off a 53-yard run in the second quarter, the longest run by a Raiders player in a preseason game since at least 2017. The play came out of an I-formation on a run up the middle, with left tackle Charles Grant delivering a pancake block to clear the initial lane.
Jack Bech, lined up in line, came over and threw a cut block that blew the gap wide open. From there, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound back with a 4.33 40-yard dash did exactly what you’d expect. He took off down the sideline, and nobody caught him.
Washington finished the game with 63 rushing yards, and the big play told you everything you need to know about what he brings to this offense. When there’s a gap, and there’s a hole, he can explode down the field for home run-type plays.
Washington’s college production and why teams passed on him
In his final season at Arkansas, Washington put together solid production despite playing for a team that struggled mightily. He finished with 1,070 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns, adding 226 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown for 1,300 all-purpose yards and 9 all-purpose touchdowns.
A lot of teams passed on him. A big reason was likely the fumble issue he dealt with in college. That didn’t show up on Thursday. What did show up was the explosiveness. And the ability to be a bruiser who wears down defenses play after play after play out of the I-formation.
The Raiders can pound the ball with Washington or Jeanty under center, grind down a defense, and then pop a play-action pass when the defense sells out against the run. Or, once the defense is worn down, one of those backs can break off a massive run. That’s exactly why Las Vegas drafted him.
The Raiders could have the best running back duo in the NFL
The Raiders are already seeing a return on investment in the preseason. None of these stats count because it is preseason, but Washington already looks like he can be part of what could be the best running back duo in the NFL. It’s his rookie year, so expectations won’t be sky-high right now, but the early returns suggest the Raiders have something special brewing. Eventually, people will be looking at this Jeanty-Washington pairing as a duo that can run with anybody.
