Raiders RB Chris Warren up to 260 pounds, Gruden ‘anxious’ to check his progress

Raiders running back Chris Warren had an eye-opening preseason a year ago. He battered opponents with his 6-foot-2, 247-pound frame to gain 292 yards rushing on just 58 carries, and he’s primed to compete again after spending 2018 on the injured reserve list.

And coach Jon Gruden says Warren has even more weight to throw around this season, according to The Las Vegas Review Journal’s Michael Gehlken.

Jon Gruden: "I like Chris Warren. He's 260 pounds. He can run. He had a very good preseason for us, and he's learned a lot, I think, about our offense and about this profession. …We'll see where he is. We're anxious to put him back in circulation."

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 3, 2019

Warren was a favorite of Gruden at last year’s training camp, especially after he trucked Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis — at Gruden’s urging — at a joint practice. The coach undoubtedly can’t wait to see what he can get from the 23-year-old Warren, whose father was a successful NFL running back.

Still, Warren needs to have a great camp to make the team. General manager Mike Mayock selected running back Josh Jacobs in the first round of this year’s NFL draft (also at Gruden’s urging). Jacobs figures to carry much of the load. He’ll need help, however.

Running back Jalen Richard is an established receiver out of the backfield; that’s his role. If Warren can continue to wallop linebackers and gain yards consistently, he may have a role on the Raiders as well, especially if the added weight equals a greater amount of defenders trucked.