Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. did not practice Thursday due to foot and back injuries, casting uncertainty on his availability for Sunday's home game against the Los Angeles Rams. The fourth-round pick out of Arkansas leads the team's running backs with 4.9 yards per carry this season, including a 36-yard touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints, and logged a season-high 23 snaps in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Monday that Washington earned additional reps after rushing for a team-high 43 yards against Buffalo. "We have to get production from all three of our backs," Kubiak said, noting Washington is part of the solution for an offense that ranks 31st in rushing efficiency at 3 yards per rush.
Running backs coach Omar Young praised Washington's unwavering inner belief. "The cool thing about Mike is confidence is the one thing he has never wavered on," Young said. "His confidence since he got here has been through the roof. And it's really not that overt confidence, it's more like just that inner-belief that he's going to get the job done every time he's out there."
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said Washington has garnered trust by applying lessons from meeting rooms to the practice field and then to games. Quarterback Kirk Cousins added, "I think he's run hard and he's continuing to get comfortable in the offense. I think every week as a rookie... you're gaining confidence and earning trust. It's a building process."
Washington, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry in his final season at Arkansas and 7.9 yards on 19 preseason carries, has worked to improve his pass catching and blocking. With three receptions for 11 yards this season, his development on passing downs could allow the Raiders to feature his speed and power without tipping run plays in a timeshare backfield behind starter Ashton Jeanty and third-down back Dylan Laube.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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