With the NFL and the NFLPA officially canceling preseason, it’s going to be hard for young players and undrafted free agents to make an impression this year. So in on honor of the preseason being removed, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton wrote about the seven biggest preseason stars of the decade.
One player that captured Moton’s (and NFL’s) attention a few years ago was Raiders’ running back Chris Warren III from Texas. In Jon Gruden’s first year back with the Raiders, he discovered Warren and used him up in the preseason. As an undrafted rookie free agent, Warren dominated his competition, rushing for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
By why didn’t Warren work out in the NFL? After being placed on the injured reserve list in 2018, Warren showed up out of shape, weighing over 250 pounds during training camp in 2019. Here are Moton’s thoughts on why Warren was just a mirage in the NFL:
“The Raiders waived him because of questions about his conditioning. Warren’s approach to the 2019 offseason wiped out everything he had done in the previous year. Because of his unsatisfactory preparation, he squandered an early chance to play in the league.”
If there is one thing we have learned about Gruden during his time with the Raiders is that he won’t put up with players who aren’t in shape. The team releasing second-round pick P.J. Hall after just two seasons is another example of that.
Unfortunately for Warren, his conditioning cost him a chance to make an impact in the NFL despite a monster preseason. Since being waived by the Raiders in July of 2019, he has yet to sign with another team. That’s how quickly windows can close in the NFL.
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