When Trent Richardson signed with the Raiders this offseason, he was hopeful of getting a fresh start.
But after just two exhibition games, it’s looking more likely that he won’t get any start at all.
Richardson, the former Alabama All-America running back, is with his third team since 2012, when he was the No. 3 overall pick of the NFL draft. Though he was a punishing ballcarrier for the Crimson Tide, he’s fallen flat in the NFL, traded away by the Browns and released by the Colts. In 46 pro games he has 614 carries for 2,032 yards – a 3.3-yard average. His longest run from scrimmage has been 32 yards, and that was in his rookie season.
Richardson, a 5-foot-9, 228-pounder, worked out hard this offseason to get lighter and quicker. He knew the Raiders might be his last chance to prove he’s an NFL running back. He vowed to win a starting job and be a longtime Raider.
“Hopefully, this is my last stop, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make this my last stop,” Richardson said when he signed with Oakland in March. “Until I’m ready to walk away from the game, I don’t want to leave here.”
Yet so far in training camp and two exhibition games, Richardson still looks like a slow back who’s lost his quickness and burst. Against the Vikings this past weekend, he had five carries for 5 yards. Against the Rams in Week 1 he had five rushes for 18 yards. That’s a 2.3-yard average on 10 attempts.
Meanwhile, his competition for a roster spot, former Auburn standout Michael Dyer, is looking terrific. The 5-foot-8, 218-pound rookie has been quick and effective in practices and games.
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Against the Vikings he carried 12 times for 45 yards. The week before he had five rushes for 11 yards. He’s averaging 3.3 yards per attempt.
But Dyer is making an impression beyond his stats, according to head coach Jack Del Rio.
“Michael did what he has been doing,” Del Rio said after the Minnesota game. “He runs hard and is very determined. He has a little juice to him. He is showing up, making people miss and accelerating through some tackles and doing a pretty good job. He has come an awful long way from when he first came in here in the spring as a late addition. We’ll see. We’ll just keep working.”
Dyer has put the heat on Richardson. Unless Richardson starts showing some improvement – beginning with Sunday’s third preseason game against Arizona – his days on the Raiders roster appear to be numbered.
