Raiders’ Josh Jacobs: Derek Carr ‘One of Most Hated QBs for No Reason’

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh
Jacobs said Friday he’s not sure why Derek Carr has so many critics,
but he’s eager to help the quarterback prove them wrong during the
2021 season.

Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network
passed along Jacobs’ full comments:

Carr is coming off a strong 2020
campaign that saw him complete 67.3 percent of his throws for 4,103
yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 16 games. He
ranked 11th in ESPN’s Total QBR (71.0) and received a rock-solid 84.7
overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

The 30-year-old Fresno State product is
under contract through 2022 as part of a five-year, $125 million
deal.

Yet, despite his standout 2020 season
and the fact he’s under contract, he hasn’t garnered the same level
of outside respect as many other franchise quarterbacks. In addition,
the Raiders were frequently linked to a potential trade for Aaron
Rodgers before he agreed to return to the Green Bay Packers for 2021.

Carr, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, can change the narrative by
leading Vegas on a deep playoff run.

The Raiders have only reached the
postseason once since the quarterback was drafted in 2014, and they
were eliminated right away in the Wild Card Round in 2016.

Carr told Rachel Gossen of the team’s
official website on Wednesday he feels “free” heading into the
2021 season and has a singular goal in mind.

“There’s been one demand, and
that’s holding up that Lombardi Trophy,” he said. “That’s
all I care about is holding that trophy up. … We’ve seen the three
trophies every time we walk in and I stare at them all the time. I
can’t imagine anything cooler than that in football. The demand is
excellence.”

Carr, Jacobs and the Raiders kick off
the regular season Sept. 13 when they host the Baltimore Ravens on
Monday Night Football.