No Deals for Franchise Tag RBs, Potential Holdouts Loom

The Las Vegas Raiders and franchise tag running back Josh Jacobs did not reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension before Monday afternoon’s deadline, putting his status going forward in doubt.

Jacobs had previously said that he would not report to training camp if he and the Raiders did not work out a long-term deal.

Players hit with the franchise tag can only play under the tag contract if they have not agreed to a long-term deal as of 4 p.m. on Monday. Jacobs is one of several players league-wide in that situation, including running backs Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys, who has said he will play under the tag. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has not made his stance clear.

Jacobs told Paloma Villicana of Fox5 Las Vegas this week that if he and the Raiders do not agree to a new deal before Monday’s deadline, he will not report for training camp.

Like Le’Veon Bell with the Steelers in 2018, Jacobs has not signed the franchise tender and is under no requirement to attend training camp, though it’s unclear if Jacobs is prepared to sit out the entire season, as Bell did.

Bell recently apologized to Steelers fans for the path that he took, which led him out of Pittsburgh and on a lesser overall contract, but with more guaranteed money, while playing with the New York Jets.

“I want to say that I apologize for leaving the best damn fans in this world,” Bell said. “I shouldn’t have left. I should’ve never left.”

The Steelers will travel to visit the Raiders in a Week 3 game, their first trip to Las Vegas since the team moved there in 2020. (Full Steelers 2023 schedule.) It’s unclear at this point if Jacobs will be available to the Raiders.

Jacobs had an enormous impact on the Raiders offense in 2022. He was an All-Pro selection after rush for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. He accounted for 80% of the team’s rushing yards and all of Vegas’ rushing touchdowns.