Raiders RBs Zamir White, Alexander Mattison 'in this together' as they aim to replace Josh Jacobs

Life after Josh Jacobs means the Raiders will turn to two running backs to lead the way in 2024.

First in line is third-year runner Zamir White, a 2022 fourth-round pick out of Georgia who spent his first two seasons behind Jacobs, a period in which the Raiders took White’s workload from minimal to legitimate spell back in a year’s time. Now, White — who will form a 1-2 punch with Alexander Mattison — feels more than ready to take over as the lead runner in Las Vegas’ backfield, quickly responding with a “hell yes” when asked if he was prepared for the role.

“Last year, my role was more like [being] a quiet guy,” White said, via ESPN. “Just like, when they need me, I’m here. But now I have to grow back into that vocal leader, and I’m just showing them on the field, every single day.

I’ve stepped into this fresh role, and it’s entirely unfamiliar territory for me. Therefore, I’ll persistently continue to work hard, learn from others around me, and make progress.

In his 2022 rookie season, White’s role in the Raiders’ offense was virtually insignificant, with a mere 17 attempts for 70 yards across 14 games. This was a season dominated by Jacobs’ NFL-leading 1,653 yards. However, by 2023, it became clear to Las Vegas that Jacobs would likely not be with them beyond that year. This led to an increase in White’s workload to 104 carries, which resulted in 451 yards, including a standout 145-yard game at Kansas City. This effectively integrated White into the Raiders’ offense.

Now, it’s his job. But as White noted, he’ll need to grow into the role, and he won’t be the only back seeking touches. Mattison joined the team via one-year deal in the offseason, and nine-year pro Ameer Abdullah returns as a reserve for his third season with the Raiders.

White could potentially find common ground with Mattison in 2024, if anything.

“It’s as difficult as you make it,” Mattison said of going from a backup to a starter, as he did when Minnesota cut Dalvin Cook in 2023. “But with the right guys, with the right group, with the right coach, it makes that process a lot easier. So, for us to be able to have a good group of backs, there’s some young guys in the room, but we’re all relative to one another in that sense, and we help one another.”

While White is currently leading the depth chart, the Raiders’ success will be a collective effort. Like many other NFL teams, the Raiders are transitioning from a lead-back setup to a committee. However, this presents an opportunity for White to demonstrate that he’s more than just the primary player in the group. He will likely need to rely on his teammates to make sure he’s ready to seize this opportunity.

“Whenever I have a question, I can count on Ameer and Zamir,” stated Mattison. “Likewise, if they have any queries, I’m there to assist. We are all collaborating to understand a new system, proving that we are in this as a team. So far, it appears to be effective, and we are progressing in the right direction,” he added.