What Raiders’ Jon Gruden and Derek Carr are saying after Josh Jacobs’ performance in win

Josh Jacobs was ready to go early and often.

He did so in a big way in the season opener for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jacobs ran for three scores to help the Raiders to a 34-30 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the NFL season.

“I’m not going to put any more pressure on him than he puts on himself,” coach Jon Gruden said. “That was a little bit like Walter Payton used to play. It was hot as hell. He got beat up early. He insisted on coming back. He insisted on getting the ball as a runner and as a receiver. He’s special.”

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who recorded his 19th career fourth-quarter comeback, said he’s not surprised at what Jacobs can do for the team.

“Josh will be the first one to tell you without that offensive line, those guys were monsters,” Carr said. “Josh is special.”

In the offseason, coaches told Jacobs to work on his contributions in the passing game. He showed how much he worked on it by finishing with four receptions for 46 yards.

“That’s the thing I worked on the most,” he said. “Coming into this season, just trying to build my different routes. Just to see (Gruden) has confidence in me is huge for me.”

But even with the three touchdowns, Jacobs is his own biggest critic, picking out areas where he said he needs to get better.

“There is still a lot that I can correct,” he said. “I know there was a couple plays I look back at, ‘Man I miss the hole, I missed the back-door cut.’ Things like that. That’s more things of ... I try to hone myself on just by having a perfect game. Just try to come back better next week.”

Of note

▪ Carr has the franchise record for most career games (33) with a passer rating of at least 100.0, passing Ken Stabler.