Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Stuck to special teams role in 2023
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Bolden finished the 2023 season with four total carries for 31 yards and a touchdown in 17 games.
Bolden was limited to a special teams role in his second campaign with the Raiders, logging just five offensive snaps throughout the entire season while Josh Jacobs, Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah handled the bulk of the work out of the backfield. Bolden turns 34 years old in late January and is slated to hit free agency, so a retirement conversation may not be completely out of the question in 2024.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Finds end zone Thursday
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Bolden rushed twice for 25 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 63-21 win over the Chargers.
Bolden had exclusively appeared on special teams this season ahead of the Thursday Night Football matchup, but he played two offensive snaps with Josh Jacobs (quadriceps) sidelined. Bolden took advantage of the limited opportunity, housing a 26-yard run for six points in the second quarter. Zamir White served as the feature back, but Jacobs appears likely to return for a Week 16 tilt against the Chiefs.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Yet to play on offense
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Bolden played all 22 of his snaps on special teams Sunday in the Raiders' 3-0 loss to the Vikings.
Bolden has been active for all 13 of the Raiders' games this season, but he has yet to see any snaps on offense. Though Bolden's status as a core special-teams contributor will likely ensure that he's active when healthy, he'll continue to rank a distant fourth behind Josh Jacobs (quadricep), Ameer Abdullah and Zamir White in the pecking order at backfield. However, with Jacobs having been listed as a nonparticipant on the Raiders' first two Week 15 injury reports and perhaps at risk of being held out or limited in Thursday's game against the Chargers, Bolden could have his best opportunity to date to factor into the mix on offense.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Limited to special-teams role
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Bolden played all 14 of his snaps on special teams Sunday in the Raiders' 38-10 loss to the Bills.
Bolden has dressed for both of the Raiders' first two games and should continue to avoid the weekly inactive list thanks to his status as a core special-teams contributor. However, so long as both Josh Jacobs and Zamir White are healthy, Bolden likely won't have any opportunities to pick up snaps out of the backfield.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Handles just 26 touches in 2022
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Bolden did not play an offensive snap in the Raiders' Week 18 loss to the Chiefs, finishing his 2022 season with 17 carries for 66 yards to go along with nine catches on as many targets for 57 yards and a score.
Bolden remained buried on the depth chart at running back behind starter Josh Jacobs, Ameer Abdullah and even Zamir White at times throughout the 2022 campaign, but the unit could look entirely different with Jacobs and Abdullah hitting free agency this offseason. Bolden will turn 33 years old in late January, however, so the Raiders might continue to view him as more of a special teamer than a backfield solution at this stage of his career.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Season-high eight carries in loss
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Bolden took eight carries for 32 yards in Sunday's 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers.
Fellow reserve running back Zamir White (ankle) was inactive Sunday, so Bolden's usage spiked against the Niners when starter Josh Jacobs briefly exited the contest in the first half due to a minor hip injury. Bolden hadn't been dealt more than one carry in a single game since Week 3, but he could serve as Jacobs' primary backup again Week 18 against the Chiefs if White remains sidelined.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Sheds injury designation
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Bolden (calf) practiced in full Wednesday, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.
Bolden was limited on Monday's estimated practice report, but he's dropped his questionable injury tag and should be ready to go Thursday against the Rams. With Josh Jacobs (quad/calf) still limited and considered questionable for the game, it's possible Bolden could be looking at an increased workload for the contest.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Considered limited Monday
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Bolden (calf) was listed as a limited participant in Monday's estimated practice report, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Bolden was questionable going into Sunday's game against the Chargers with the same injury, but he ultimately suited up and played. With the Raiders returning to action Thursday against the Rams, it's possible his limited estimate is representative of a cautious approach by the team, as opposed to him having aggravated the injury. His practice status will be worth monitoring in the days ahead though, especially with Ameer Abdullah (hamstring) and Josh Jacobs (quad/calf) also listed as limited participants Monday.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Iffy for Week 13
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Bolden (calf) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.
Bolden was limited throughout Week 13 prep due to a calf injury and is considered questionable for Sunday. The backup running back has played primarily on special teams this season, so his potential absence shouldn't impact the Raiders offense. However, Josh Jacobs (calf) is also questionable, so if both aforementioned players are sidelined, Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah would likely operate as Las Vegas' top two backs against Los Angeles.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Limited Wednesday
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Bolden (calf) was listed as a limited participant during the Raiders' walkthrough Wednesday, Rachel Gossen of the team's official site reports.
Bolden was forced out early with a calf injury during Sunday's win over the Seahawks, and it's unclear if he was able to return to this contest. While the nature of this issue is still unknown, the 32-year-old running back will now have two more practices to improve his status before this Sunday's game against the Chargers. Bolden has recorded two rushes for 10 yards and five receptions (on five targets) for 32 yards while almost exclusively playing on special teams since Week 4, so he'll likely continue to play a limited offensive role when healthy.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Exits with injury Sunday
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Bolden (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Bolden did not log a statistic before exiting at some point during the first half Sunday. While the nature of this issue is still unclear, his absence should leave Zamir White to take on a bigger role behind top running backs Josh Jacobs and Ameer Abdullah.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Targeted once in win
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Bolden caught his only target for four yards in Sunday's 22-16 overtime win over the Broncos.
Bolden's lone reception came in the first quarter, but he ultimately logged just three offensive snaps while fellow running back Ameer Abdullah saw four targets out of the Raiders' backfield behind Josh Jacobs. Bolden figures to remain limited to a special-teams role again Week 12 versus the Seahawks.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Dealt one carry in loss
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Bolden took his only carry for five yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Jaguars.
Bolden was not targeted in the passing game, while fellow backup Ameer Abdullah caught one of three targets for eight yards. The former has logged just five total offensive snaps in three contests since the Raiders' bye in Week 6, so Bolden carries very little fantasy appeal into Las Vegas' upcoming tilt against the Colts.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Five touches in return
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Bolden rushed three times for 17 yards and caught his only two targets for four yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Titans.
Bolden, who returned from a one-week absence due to a hamstring injury, earned five touches behind starter Josh Jacobs on Sunday while fellow reserve Ameer Abdullah was limited to four snaps on special teams. Bolden should fill a similar role back at home against the Broncos in Week 4.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Cleared for Week 3 action
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Bolden (hamstring) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans after practicing fully Friday.
Meanwhile, top back Josh Jacobs didn't practice for the second straight day due to illness and is listed as questionable for the contest. If Jacobs is unable to gain clearance to suit up for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, added Week 3 opportunities would be available for Bolden, Ameer Abdullah and Zamir White.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Limited again Thursday
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Bolden (hamstring) was limited at Thursday's practice, Rachel Gossen of the Raiders' official site reports.
Bolden logged his second consecutive limited practice Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1. The running back was unable to suit up in Week 2 against Arizona. Expect Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah to share the workload behind lead back Josh Jacobs once again if Bolden is unable to get healthy before the Raiders' Week 3 matchup against the Titans.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Logs limited practice
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Bolden (hamstring) was limited at practice Wednesday, Rachel Gossen of the Raiders' official site reports.
Bolden was inactive this past weekend against the Cardinals, but his limited participation Wednesday suggests that he has a chance to return to action this Sunday against the Titans. In Bolden's absence in Week 2, Ameer Abdullah and rookie Zamir White handled change-of-pace work behind lead back Josh Jacobs.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Inactive in Week 2
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Bolden (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's Week 2 clash against the Cardinals.
As became increasingly expected as the week unfolded, Bolden will not be healthy enough to suit up after recording a receiving touchdown in the Week 1 loss to the Chargers. In his absence, Ameer Abdullah and rookie Zamir White could be beneficiaries in the form of complementary snaps behind Josh Jacobs against Arizona.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Misses practice Wednesday
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Bolden (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday.
Prior to exiting this past Sunday's season-opening loss to the Chargers, Bolden logged 16 snaps while working behind starter Josh Jacobs. In his reserve role, Bolden rushed three times for seven yards while securing both of his targets for 21 yards and a touchdown. If Bolden is out this weekend against the Cardinals, Ameer Abdullah and Zamir White could see added backfield snaps for the Raiders.
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Raiders' Brandon Bolden: Exits with hamstring injury
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Bolden suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
Bolden was relatively effective to begin Sunday's season opener, rushing three times for seven yards while securing both of his targets for 21 yards and a touchdown. However, he was shaken up on a punt return in the third quarter and had to be helped off the field. He was ruled out shortly after, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be available for next Sunday's Week 2 matchup against Arizona.
