The Las Vegas Raiders continue to shuffle the deck amid a disappointing 2023 campaign. Per NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Raiders have released starting fullback Jakob Johnson due to a new offensive scheme being implemented.
I’ve been released by the @Raiders
— Jakob Johnson (@jakobjohnson) November 17, 2023
Las Vegas fired head coach Josh McDaniels in late October, with offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi soon joining him in unemployment. The Raiders elevated quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree to OC, and his playcalling style no longer fits the need for a fullback, making Johnson’s role nonexistent.
Jakob Johnson: French-German Fullback
Jakob Johnson, born in Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttembery, Germany, is a five-year NFL vet. The Tennessee Vols product signed with the New England Patriots in 2019 through the International Player Pathway Program. Johnson played three seasons with the Pats, catching 13 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown while starting 20 games at fullback. He also played 384 special teams snaps during that span. The 28-year-old signed with the Raiders in 2022, playing all 17 games and catching five passes for ten yards. Johnson again held down his starting fullback position this season before being released. He had just one reception in eight games.
Las Vegas Raiders: Offensive Plans as We Advance
The Raiders’ current offensive coordinator, Bo Hardegree, never got to use fullback Jakob Johnson. The second-year Raider missed the past two games with a concussion, the first two games of the Hardegree OC era. However, Hardegree will opt for a scheme that remains void of a fullback. Las Vegas has been very balanced under their new play-caller, with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell throwing the ball 52 times over the past two games, while star running back Josh Jacobs has carried the rock 58 times during that span. O’Connell, a first-year player from Purdue, took over for the highly-paid Jimmy Garoppolo after the latter lost hold of his starting job.
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!