16-year NFL tight end Jason Witten has signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Witten, an eleven-time Pro Bowler, and two-time All-Pro has spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jason Witten Signs With Las Vegas Raiders
Witten has spent his whole career in with the Dallas Cowboys. His 2019 season saw him catch 63 passes for 560 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 8.9 yards per catch in a campaign where Dallas floundered to 8-8. Witten was drafted by Dallas in the 3rd round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. Witten also spent a one year hiatus in the ESPN broadcasting booth on Monday Night Football in 2018.
Initially after being drafted Witten was looked at to be the next Jay Novacek. His rookie campaign garnered 35 catches and 347 yards with one touchdown. From his second season on, though, Witten established himself as one of the best tight ends ever. “Big Wit” as they call him in Dallas, was the carbon copy of Jay Novacek, but better. He did everything from being a great blocker, to becoming young Tony Romo‘s safety blanket.
Witten really began to flourish once the Cowboys made a QB change. Starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was out, Tony Romo was in. Before 2007, Jason had only one season with more than 66 catches. After 2007, though, he averaged 80 catches a season, with a high water mark of 110 in 2012. Wit is also notorious for playing through injuries. He once broke his jaw, and snuck rolls of pennies in his pockets to make weight. Another year, 2012 to be exact, he played with a lacerated spleen.
2019 wasn’t Witten’s best year statistically, but he was still valuable for Dak Prescott. He ran his routes efficiently and provided a safety valve as usual. The Cowboys coaxed Wit out of retirement, but now they have to try and keep him around. He currently ranks fourth all-time in catches with 1215, and second all-time in receiving yards by a tight end.
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