Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III Can Come Of Age In Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Raiders have surprised everyone in the NFL by opening the regular season with two wins. As well as that, those wins have come against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, two playoff teams from last year.
Sunday’s 26-17 victory over the Steelers was masterminded by an in form quarterback in Derek Carr. However, Raiders coach Jon Gruden reserved his praise after the game for wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.
Ruggs led Las Vegas with 113 receiving yards on the day, as well as scoring a vital touchdown. It was his second career-game with over 100 yards receiving.
His 61-yard touchdown from Derek Carr on a third-and-ten from the 39 yard line came at a pivotal point. It gave the Raiders a 9 point lead over Pittsburgh, who couldn’t respond.
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“That’s one of the reasons we took Ruggs,” Jon Gruden said.
“He blew the top off in Arrowhead (last season) and helped us win that game and against the Jets.
“Not many guys can run that fast and track that ball.”
The 2020 first-round pick has been brought in to augment Derek Carr alongside Darren Waller, Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow.
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Now in his second year, Las Vegas is betting on Ruggs to become a regular contributor. He is used to the pressure having played at Arrowhead last year. As far as being one of the main guys though, the WR relishes the challenge.
“The deep route was dialed up, and we got the coverage we wanted,” Ruggs said.Â
“It was a moon ball, and I had to run and go get it. It feels good to be a guy that can turn a game around at any time. To make a play like to seal the game is just … that’s the feeling I like.”