Raiders release running back Jeremy Hill two days after signing him
By Justin Fried
The Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly released veteran running back Jeremy Hill.
Jeremy Hill’s tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders is officially over. And what a glorious two days it was.
Hill has reportedly been released by the Raiders just two days after signing with the team. As first reported by Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders have released Hill after activating fellow running back Devontae Booker off the COVID-19 list.
After bringing the veteran tailback in for a physical, the Raiders originally signed Hill on Monday. But evidently, they no longer felt the need for him after Booker was cleared to return.
A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Hill spent the first four years of his career playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. A standout rookie season put his name on the map, but he followed that with three less-than-stellar campaigns.
Hill then signed on with the New England Patriots ahead of the 2018 season, but tore his ACL in the first game of the season. That same injury would force him to the following season as well, but he looked to return to the gridiron in 2020 after nearly three years away from the game.
However, it doesn’t appear as though it will be with the Raiders.
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The Raiders simply didn’t see a need for Jeremy Hill on the roster.
Josh Jacobs will return and serve as the team’s top running back and former Kentucky quarterback/wide receiver Lynn Bowden will likely see time in the backfield as well after being selected in the third round of this year’s draft.
Combine that with the returning Jalen Richard and the newly-signed Booker and the Raiders no longer saw a need for Hill. Booker, in particular, is likely the biggest reason for Hill’s abrupt departure.
The Raiders signed the former Denver Broncos’ running back to give the team an adequate power back behind Jacobs. Neither Richard nor Bowden are seen as players who could command a lion’s share of the carries if Jacobs goes down and that’s where Booker will step in.
Hill’s skill set was ultimately redundant and it led to his release.
If Booker or another running back is forced to miss some time, perhaps the Raiders could opt to bring Hill back.
Next. Derek Carr is ‘tired of being disrespected,’ will not opt-out in 2020. dark
But for now, it seems as though Jeremy Hill’s stay in Las Vegas is over before it ever really started.