RB Goodson capitalizes on his few opportunities

ALAMEDA – Mike Goodson is a complementary running back with a style all his own.

In contrast to Michael Bush, a 240-pound bruiser who was Oakland's primary backup the past several seasons, Goodson is a darter and a slasher, capable of getting yardage in big chunks.

In the Raiders' 23-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Goodson did a lot with a little. He raced 37 yards with a screen pass to help set up a 22-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski in the second quarter and gained 43 yards on a fourth-quarter carry to get the Raiders out of a second-and-nine hole at their 11-yard line.

"I kind of take it as a glass-is-half-full thing," Goodson said. "I get to play with Darren McFadden. I know what he's going to do when he gets the ball, so I feel like I've got just as much pressure on me. So when I touch the ball, I've got to make something happen every time."

Goodson has 11 carries through five games but has 89 rushing yards. As a receiver, Goodson has seven receptions for 115 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch against Miami.

He has gradually regained the trust of the coaching staff after a preseason game in Atlanta in which he fumbled twice – an issue he had in Carolina. The fumbles came not long after a crushing practice hit by Philip Wheeler sent him to a hospital in an ambulance.

"I talked to coach, and he had confidence in me," Goodson said. "When you play football, you try not to think about it. You just kind of go. But yeah, to have those two fumbles come out, with a new team, it was devastating. So to get in there and make plays, it felt good."

Coach Dennis Allen said depending on game circumstances, Goodson's carries could go up. McFadden has a shoulder issue, according to the injury report, and briefly left the Atlanta game.

"(Goodson) can keep McFadden a little bit more fresh," Allen said. "All that being said, Darren's our lead back, and we're extremely happy to have him."

Notes – Running back Taiwan Jones (knee) did not practice after being limited the day before. Absent were right tackle Khalif Barnes (groin), cornerback Shawntae Spencer (foot) and tight end Richard Gordon (hamstring).

Spencer tweeted that he was "off crutches and feeling better every day."

• The Raiders were granted a one-day extension to sell more tickets and prevent a blackout of Sunday's home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

• Read more articles by Jerry McDonald

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