Insider suggests Raiders RB's holdout could extend into regular season

"The one [running back situation] no one is talking about is Josh Jacobs," NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Show." "At this point, if there's not a long-term deal, I don't anticipate Jacobs being there at the start of training camp, and I don't know that he shows up Week 1."

Jacobs became embroiled in contract negotiations after he refused to sign his franchise tender (a one-year, $10.1M deal) in April. The RB recently said "Bad business" on his Twitter account. While it didn't directly comment on his contract dispute, it could imply that he's frustrated since there hasn't been much progress.

Las Vegas and the 25-year-old have until July 17 to reach a multiyear deal. If both sides can't agree, Jacobs must sign the franchise tag, or he's ineligible to play.

Jacobs' frustrations are understandable. Last season, he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653 in 17 games, but he's not getting what he's worth. Per Spotrac, his market value is a four-year deal worth $12.8M annually.

However, carrying a holdout into the regular season is risky. For example, former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell sat out the entire 2018 season after Pittsburgh kept spurning his contract demands. Although Bell signed a four-year, $52.5M with the Jets in 2019, he would only play one season for New York and hasn't latched onto another team since 2021.  

At this point, Jacobs might have to accept the Raiders' offer and bet on himself again. He's in his prime, so he could have another fantastic season and make the organization consider giving him a better deal next offseason.