Through 14 weeks, no running black to play for the Las Vegas Raiders has totaled more than five runs of 10-plus yardage. Aside from Sincere McCormick, that is, who’s attempted any number of rushes in only three contests this season.
Although UTSA alum Sincere McCormick signed a three-year deal with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022, he didn’t get to see the field once during his rookie campaign. That would stand true in his sophomore year as well, as the talented running back would go two consecutive years without a single rushing attempt during the regular season.
2024 was shaping up to be no different for the 24-year-old. However, a depleted running back room in Sin City finally offered McCormick a chance to show a thing or two during a regular season contest. In Week 12’s matchup against the Denver Broncos, McCormick was tasked with carrying the football for the first time in his career during a non-preseason bout.
The third-year Raider made sure to take full advantage of this opportunity, too.
It only took five carries for McCormick to prove his value in the National Football League. On five rushing attempts, the former undrafted free agent gained a total of 33 yards, finishing his day with more on-the-ground yardage than any of his teammates.
Two weeks later, McCormick has yet to slow down.
Following his success against Denver, McCormick saw his rushing attempts increase from five to 12. The Raiders’ up-and-coming back totaled 64 yards on such attempts, once again leading his team in rushing yardage. More than that, McCormick’s 64 yards on the ground were more than the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders’ Week 13 opponents, combined for as a team.
McCormick earned 15 carries in Week 14, rushing for a career-high 76 yards.
An incredible three-week stretch for Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick
It may only be a three-week sample size, but McCormick deserves his flowers all the same in the meantime. He’s simply been that good.
Among running backs who have carried the ball at least 15 times since Week 12, only five have earned a higher grade than McCormick’s mark of 78.2 via Pro Football Focus. None of the five higher-graded backs average more yards per carry than McCormick, either, who averages 5.5 yards per attempt.
Despite running with the football 32 times since Week 12, the 22nd-highest total league-wide at his position, McCormick’s production has been fantastic during this timeframe. Only six running backs across the NFL with 15-plus carries have a higher yards per carry mark than Las Vegas’ 5-foot-9 tailback.
McCormick’s explosiveness has greatly contributed to his sky-high yards per rush attempt thus far. Although the Raiders struggled to create big plays on the ground throughout the season, that’s been far from the case with McCormick in the backfield. With six runs of at least 10 yards in the last three weeks, only five backs league-wide are responsible for more runs of this variety than Sin City’s new starting running back.
Still, two things can be true at once
There isn’t enough positives to say about McCormick at this point. Since taking his first snap in Week 12, the Raiders’ offense has suddenly developed a run-game behind their third-year back. Explosive plays on the ground have come in bunches with McCormick on the field, whether he carries the ball five times or 15.
However, while McCormick has performed exceptionally through these past three weeks, and has shown he has all the tools to be a bell-cow back in the National Football League, it has been a mere three weeks.
That’s too early to crown McCormick the team’s future running back, regardless of how magnificent he’s performed since joining the 53-man roster three weeks ago.
That’s a lesson Las Vegas learned this offseason.
Thanks to an outstanding three-game stretch by Zamir White in 2023, the Raiders were confident they had their running back of the future. So confident, in fact, that the team felt okay with Josh Jacobs departing due to faith in White. A decision that, prior to McCormick’s arrival, has been nothing short of disastrous.
How McCormick ends his ’24 campaign should paint a clearer picture on his future role with the team. Should he continue his outright dominant play for the remainder of the season, there’s no reason whatsoever to believe McCormick won’t play a big part in the team’s future plans.
But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
In the meantime, one thing is clear: Sincere McCormick is a promising young back who has the tools to be a focal point of an offense.
*Top Photo: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images
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