Melvin Gordon Offers Advice to Raiders' Josh Jacobs Amid Training Camp Holdout

The Raiders running back received wisdom from another RB who has held out of training camp in the past.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs will not report to the start of training camp this week as he looks to land an improved contract from the franchise.

With a potential holdout looming for Jacobs, the 25-year-old received some advice from a fellow running back with experience in holding out over a contract dispute, Melvin Gordon.

The former Chargers and Broncos running back made an appearance on Kay Adams’s show, Up & Adams. When the topic of Jacobs’s holdout was broached, Gordon explained what he would do if in Jacobs’s situation.

“I wouldn’t do it. … If you’re going to holdout, just holdout until maybe like the end of camp,” said Gordon. “I definitely wouldn’t holdout and miss any games because you’re not going to get that [$10 million] back.”

“I don’t know if the Raiders, I don’t know if the owner loves Josh Jacobs like Jerry Jones loves Zeke...”

Melvin Gordon doesn’t hold back on Josh Jacobs contract situation@heykayadams | @Melvingordon25 pic.twitter.com/g8ij6PZDOk

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 25, 2023

“It’s really a loss. I don’t think with the running backs sitting out, it hasn’t been good really for any of us besides Zeke [Ezekiel Elliott]. I don’t know if the owner loves Josh Jacobs like Jerry Jones loves Zeke,” he added.

Gordon held out from Chargers training camp in 2019 and went on to miss the first four games of the regular season. He never received a new deal and the team parted ways with him after the campaign.

Of course, Gordon wasn’t entering his holdout season as the reigning rushing champion, a notable difference in their situation. Despite that, the 30-year-old still advised Jacobs to ensure he’s ready to go for the regular season.