With their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread, the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers are in a similar position as the Raiders, as a loss would pretty much end their hopes of making a postseason run.
This matchup will be a battle of attrition. Both teams are hit hard by injuries, as the Chargers are going to be without starting quarterback Justin Herbert and wide receiver Keenan Allen. Herbert is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the fractured index finger on his throwing hand, while Allen is dealing with a heel injury.
Now, it has been announced that the Raiders are going to be without a major part of their offense as well. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, in collaboration with Mike Garafolo, star running back Josh Jacobs will be sidelined because of a quad injury.
Jacobs did not practice once leading up to the game and will be unable to suit up on a short week. In his place, the Raiders will be turning to Zamir White as their starting running back.
NFL News & Rumors: Josh Jacobs, Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders Updates
This is a huge blow for Las Vegas. It will be the first game Jacobs has missed since the 2021 season, as he has been a relatively durable player for the Raiders in his career.
Jacobs isn’t having as productive of a season as he did in 2022 when he led the league in rushing, but he remains a key cog in their offensive attack. He helps take pressure off of rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, but that role will now fall upon White.
White, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia, has received very few opportunities to this point in his career. In 27 appearances, he has handled only 37 carries for 124 yards. He has added six receptions for 38 yards, as tonight will be his first chance at receiving extended opportunities.
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