Last season, the Raiders acquired an undrafted former four-star recruit from the University of Texas in Chris Warren, and the running back was the talk of training camp. He generated the most chatter when he trucked linebacker Jarrad Davis during a joint practice with the Lions in Napa.
Warren went on to rush for 292 yards on 58 carries in the preseason, using his 6-foot-2 inch, 247-pound frame to punish defenders. But he was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list with an apparent knee injury. Coach Jon Gruden said at the time that Warren was a player to keep an eye on in 2019.
The new season is finally approaching for Warren, and he sounds ready to play some football. He told Upon Further Review with Eddie Paskal he was able to harness his extra energy saved from lack of football activities to prepare for his new opportunity.
“It’s just something that you don’t really realize until it happens because all you know about is just playing and then … if you’re forced to take a step back, it definitely puts a different aspect on it,” Warren said.
The Raiders running back position is a question mark heading into the NFL draft. General manager Mike Mayock said both he and last year’s starter, Marshawn Lynch, will wait until after the draft to determine their interest in a new contract.
Jalen Richard was productive last season, mostly as a receiver out of the backfield, and Oakland signed capable veteran Isaiah Crowell in late March. DeAndre Washington, a former fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech, is in the last year of his rookie deal and will be in the mix. Another contributor in 2018, Doug Martin, is currently a free agent.
Warren’s chances to make the team depend on what pieces Oakland adds to the backfield. But he brings size and natural skill to the table — his father, of the same name, was a three-time Pro Bowl player for the Seahawks and had 7,696 career rushing yards.
Plus, Gruden has consistently showered Warren with praise. It was at Gruden’s urging that Warren lowered his shoulder to run Davis over, and the coach likely can’t wait to school his young prospect some more during another training camp.
