George Atkinson III found the expressway Friday night, and if he keeps doing that, it’s going to be hard for the Raiders to keep the running back off the 53-man roster.
With the Cardinals’ defense leaning one way in the preseason opener, Atkinson bounced a running play outside, making a defender miss. When receiver Joe Hansley took out another defender with a block, Atkinson had reached the right sideline, the expressway.
And he floored it.
“Once he turns the corner, he’s gone,” fullback Marcel Reece said.
The 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was only the start for the running back, who has spent the past two years on Oakland’s practice squad.