The Oakland Raiders need all the help they can get on offense. Maurice Jones-Drew says he's ready to provide it.
The team's veteran running back told NFL Media's Terrell Davis on Wednesday that he'll be in the lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins after missing the past two games with a hand injury that required surgery.
"Yeah, definitely," Jones-Drew said on NFL AM. "It's not up to me but I feel like I'll be able to play."
Jones-Drew returned to practice last week, but it was Darren McFadden who was asked to shoulder the load in Sunday's 16-9 loss to the Patriots after MJD was ruled out.
"Just trying to get on the field and help my man (McFadden) out," Jones-Drew told Davis. "I feel we both do better if we both out there. So obviously he's been taking the brunt of the carries and the brunt of the reps, so I want to get out there and try and give him a blow here and there and let him get his legs back underneath him so he can run."
This season's pairing of MJD and McFadden was a suspect notion from the start, but the results have surprised even the cynics. Only the Chicago Bears are averaging fewer yards on the ground than Oakland's 64.3.
The healthy return of Jones-Drew can't hurt, but it's hardly time for Raiders fans to gather up the celebratory confetti. Oakland's long walk into the night has just begun.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps all of the Week 3 action and picks the top team in the AFC.
