Nobody will deny the fact Jason Witten has had a fruitful NFL career. Based on his body of work, he’s got a high chance of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On the other hand, it’s hard to argue he’s near the end of the road and his uneventful tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders could come to an end against the Denver Broncos in Week 17.
Jason Witten knows he’s closer to the end
Witten recently said in a sit-down with the local media he’s not really focused on next year. Instead, he’s a firm believer in the task at hand and wants to take his time before making a decision. He added he was proud to be part of this Las Vegas team even though they fell short of expectations.
This season, Witten has suited up for every game and started six. He has played on 38 percent of the Raiders’ total snaps on offense and has hauled in 13 receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns in the process. Looking at his production, this Las Vegas team must consider whether they would bring the tight end back for one last ride.
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Does it make sense for the Raiders to bring Witten back?
Witten joined the Raiders this past offseason to provide leadership to an up-and-coming squad. While that sounded great on paper, the results haven’t been great. He certainly had an impact in the tight end room, but his presence has also hindered Foster Moreau’s growth. The LSU standout has a solid rookie season and looked poised to break out in 2020.
Nevertheless, Witten took snaps away from the sophomore and hindered his development in the process. To add insult to injury, it’s clear Moreau is the better player right now, catching six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. Moreover, he’s averaging 22.2 yards per reception while Witten is averaging just 5.3.
Witten has had an illustrious NFL career. In fact, he will have a chance to break the record for games played by a tight end when he suits up for his 271st game. That’s nothing to scoff at and it’s worth praising. However, once he achieves the milestone and the stadium lights are off, it may be time for him to hang up the cleats.
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Top Photo: Associated Press/John Locher