Inspirational story behind Josh Jacobs decision to play for Raiders on Saturday

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has an important reason as to why he’s playing in the team’s season finale on Saturday.

The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have much to play for, considering they were eliminated from playoff contention last week with their overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers. However, they do have the chance to ruin the rival Kansas City Chiefs’ shot at clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a victory on Saturday.

Running back Josh Jacobs is expected to play despite dealing with hip and oblique injuries. But there’s a specific reason as to why he will be playing.

This past Tuesday, Jacobs’ six-year-old son, Braxton, called 911 after finding the running back’s father, Marty, in pain. From there that Jacobs’ father had to undergo emergency heart surgery on Wednesday. Jacobs had spent the majority of the week with his father in Tulsa, Okla. and asked him what he should do in regards to playing. Marty told Jacob to play, and that’s exactly what he’s doing on Saturday.

The details come from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Josh Jacobs playing in Week 18 for his father

Jacobs flew out of Tulsa back to Las Vegas on Friday, and he was officially activated for the regular-season finale. Marty is currently still in intensive care.

In this game, Jacobs has the opportunity to clinch a Raiders record. With 1,608 rushing yards to his credit entering the final game of the season, Jacobs needs just 152 rushing yards to break the single-season rushing record for the Raiders. Marcus Allen holds the record with 1,759 yards, set during the 1985 season, the very campaign where he won the NFL MVP award.

Additionally, Jacobs has the chance to build on his lead amongst the likes of Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry to officially clinch the NFL rushing title.

The Raiders and Chiefs kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 7, live on ESPN.