Zay Day: Raiders’ Jones ready for bigger role against Giants

A chorus of voices astir the Raiders’ installation person been singing the praises of Zay Jones each the mode backmost to grooming camp.

He has impressed his coaches and teammate with his betterment and enactment ethic each time connected the signifier tract since joining the squad successful 2019.

Now the 26-year-old erstwhile second-round prime volition person the accidental to amusement it to the remainder of the satellite erstwhile helium is thrust into a starting relation successful Sunday’s 10 a.m. crippled against the New York Giants astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey.

While Jones has had plentifulness of supporters successful the organization, nary 1 wanted this to beryllium the mode the erstwhile East Carolina standout would determination to the apical of the extent chart.

But erstwhile Henry Ruggs crashed his car portion allegedly drunk and driving much than 150 mph and a pistillate died, the erstwhile first-round prime was released by the squad portion helium awaits ceremonial charges successful the case.

That was connected the heels of seasoned Willie Snead asking for his release past period due to the fact that helium didn’t spot a way to much playing time.

That volition present autumn to Jones, who has six catches connected 7 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown this season. He volition descent into the extracurricular receiver presumption that Ruggs has occupied, racking up 36 targets done 7 games, turning them into 24 catches for 469 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“We ever speech astir opportunity, and it comes successful a batch of antithetic forms, and this is an accidental for Zay,” violative coordinator Greg Olson said. “Not the accidental helium was looking for, but we’ve ever felt existent beardown astir Zay Jones and his abilities arsenic a receiver. … He’s had a precise bully week of practice.”

While Jones doesn’t person the earthy velocity of Ruggs, Olson doesn’t judge the discourtesy has to driblet disconnected astatine all.

“If you were to speech to not lone conscionable Derek, but the remainder of the players connected discourtesy astatine each position,” Olson said, “they’ve got each the assurance successful the satellite successful Zay, and we bash arsenic good arsenic a staff.”

Quarterback Derek Carr praising Jones’ imaginable is thing new. He has done it astatine each accidental erstwhile speaking to the media, but present it’s clip to spot that quality connected the field. Carr believes Jones’ enactment ethic volition pb to results.

“He’s the hardest practicing idiosyncratic I’ve ever seen successful my life,” Carr said past week. “Now helium has a precise large role, but roles alteration successful the NFL rapidly and his relation has changed conscionable on with immoderate different guys whose roles are going to change. But it’s inactive immoderate your relation is, bash it to the champion of your ability. It’s got to beryllium similar thing ever happened.”

The Raiders don’t person to spell backmost precise acold to spot grounds of specified a theory. Star choky extremity Darren Waller missed their past crippled against the Eagles erstwhile helium injured his ankle precocious successful the week astatine practice. Foster Moreau stepped up with six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Both choky ends should beryllium disposable Sunday and volition beryllium needed successful the passing game, on with the moving backs.

As of Ruggs’ merchandise connected Tuesday, the Raiders had conscionable 3 wide receivers connected the roster. Dillon Stoner was promoted from the signifier squad connected Thursday. Javon Wims and Marcell Ateman are imaginable signifier squad call-ups for crippled day.

But the Raiders volition beryllium going into a cardinal roadworthy crippled alternatively short-handed astatine receiver. It’s thing caller and Carr doesn’t expect immoderate drop-off successful performance, mostly due to the fact that helium believes his teammates lone attraction astir winning.

“I deliberation the 1 connection I tin deliberation of is selfless,” helium said. “Our superstar subordinate and our choky extremity (Waller) is the astir selfless subordinate connected our team, and erstwhile your champion subordinate is your astir selfless player, everyone other has to autumn successful line. Who tin reason astir not getting targets if his targets spell from 20 to 4 1 day?”

Contact Adam Hill astatine ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ connected Twitter.