Injury creates opportunity for former Boise State RB to make first start with Raiders

For the first seven weeks of the season, Doug Martin has been a change-of-pace back for the Oakland Raiders.

The Boise State alum is on the cusp of a potential starring role now.

Veteran running back Marshawn Lynch was placed on the injured/reserve list on Monday, creating a void in the Oakland offense that Martin is most likely to fill.

Martin is the projected starter at running back for Oakland’s home game Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. It would be his first start since 2017, when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden told ESPN a few weeks ago that Martin has been playing well but was simply stuck behind Lynch.

“We’ve got a good back over there, Doug Martin, who’s ready to roll,” Gruden said to ESPN. “And Doug can’t get on the field.”

Martin has 27 carries for 99 yards and four receptions for five yards this season. The 31st overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft spent his first six seasons with Tampa Bay, where he started 65 of the 68 games he played. He has two seasons of 1,000-plus yards, rushing for 1,454 in 2012 and 1,402 in 2015. He made the Pro Bowl both seasons.

Martin may share carries with DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard on Sunday. Richard, a third-year pro out of Southern Mississippi, has been used more as a receiving back, with 31 receptions for 253 yards to go with 11 carries for 32 yards.

Washington is just returning from a knee injury.

Lynch leads the Raiders in rushing this season with 376 yards and three touchdowns on 90 carries.

Martin played for Boise State from 2008 to 2011, totaling 3,431 career rushing yards, good enough for the sixth-most in program history. His 43 career rushing TDs ranks fifth in Boise State history.

This story was originally published October 23, 2018 at 5:05 PM.