Raiders missing Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller at practice again

Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller are both not practicing for the Raiders.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been quite the pleasant surprise so far in 2020, as Josh Jacobs, Derek Carr, and Darren Waller have combined to make Jon Gruden’s offense one of the league’s most efficient through two games. Sustaining those winning ways in Week 3 could be more difficult, however, as neither Jacobs nor Waller are 100 percent.

Tashan Reed of The Athletic is reporting that in addition to starting linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski and right tackle Trent Brown, Jacobs and Waller were absent from practice. Their availability for Vegas’ Week 3 game against Cam Newton and the New England Patriots is no longer certain.

Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller are the two best offensive players for the Raiders

2019 established Jacobs and Waller as two of the very best in the league at their respective positions, and both of them are seeing to prove they can challenge the best of the best in 2020. Jacobs has amassed 244 yards and three touchdowns in two games, while Waller caught 12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in an improbable win against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

The most likely candidates to start should neither of them be healthy are running back Devontae Booker, signed away from the Denver Broncos in the offseason, and some combination of Foster Moreau and Jason Witten at tight end. Witten is nowhere near the receiving threat he used to be, while Moreau is a better blocker than pass catcher.

The Raiders have started off 2020 very nicely, but they are still a limited team and a large portion of their offense flows through these two players. If they are unable to go against a Bill Belichick defense, Carr will be in for a long afternoon.