When it comes to the most popular Las Vegas Raiders players, quarterback Derek Carr, running back Josh Jacobs, or tight end Darren Waller may come to mind, but what about guard Gabe Jackson? Carr believes Jackson’s name should be in the conversation.
The case for guard Gabe Jackson
Jackson’s one of four players that joined the Raiders before 2016 and remain with the team. That’s easier said than done when you think of the myriad of changes the roster has gone through in the last three years. In fact, ’66’ is one of the few players, along with Carr, that have signed the rare second contract with the team in recent years.
The Mississippi State standout was trending up before he signed a five-year $55 million contract in 2017. Then, injuries hindered his performance to the point of being the subject of trade talks in 2020. In the end, nothing materialized and the veteran stayed with the Raiders.
Looking back, this ended up working out for both the team and the guard. This season, he has started in all games and become a key cog in the Raiders offensive line. So far, he has committed just one penalty and allowed just 12 total pressures. Moreover, he hasn’t given up a sack and has played on 96 percent of the team’s total snaps on offense.
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Gabe Jackson is an unsung contributor for the Raiders
The reason why Jackson has been so effective in 2020 is simple, he’s been healthy. He wasn’t himself the previous two years due to the injuries he sustained. The guard said in a recent sitdown with the local media that it feels great to be healthy after dealing with injuries the last couple of seasons.
Carr recognizes the work Jackson has done and said in the same press conference that he deserves more recognition. He believes he is one of the toughest and grittiest players he has taken the field with. The Raiders quarterback later added that he doesn’t know what Jackson needs to do to receive more national attention.
Looking at Carr’s comments, he may be a bit biased on this one. After all, he and Jackson are teammates. On the other hand, it’s true that the Raiders guard has played an essential role in the team’s 5-3 record and that is something worth recognizing.
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Top Photo: Tony Avelar/Associated Press