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Raiders GM McKenzie: Marshawn Lynch 'has more than enough left'

Marshawn Lynch

Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie is confident Marshawn Lynch will be able to produce for the team despite having a year off from the NFL.

Lynch retired at the end of the 2015 season but the lure of playing for his hometown team was enough to convince the running back to return.

The Raiders signed Lynch to a two-year contract on April 26 after the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a trade to send his rights to Oakland.

Lynch, who turned 31 last month, averaged over 1,300 yards per season from 2011-14 but saw a decline in production as injuries got the best of him.

The five-time Pro Bowler ran for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014 while helping the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl for the second straight year.

However, his 2015 campaign was plagued by injuries and saw him rush for just 417 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.

But, speaking to SiriusXM NFL Radio, McKenzie said: "We think he has more than enough left to be a highly productive running back in this league — even back to his latter couple years when he was playing.

"So we think he's going to be highly productive and we're excited to have him and he is extremely excited to be here, playing for the Oakland Raiders.

"Once it was word that he may come out of retirement and Oakland was a place to land, I was really excited. So when that thing took off, we stayed in pursuit and I was happy that it worked out."

 

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