Welcome to the party, Roy Helu, Jr.
After having a limited offensive role for the Silver and Black through the first three weeks of the regular season, former Nebraska Cornhusker Roy Helu, Jr., got involved in all aspects of Sundays' game, even returning 3 kickoffs for 58 total yards.
"It's always enjoyable being a part of something bigger than yourself," said the cerebral Helu postgame. "With this group it really is a team. The goal that we have is winning games and trying to win our division and win the AFC. It's always enjoyable when you're out there and you're contributing."
And Helu contributed across the board Sunday, returning the 3 aforementioned kicks, rushing the ball 5 times for 22 yards and also catching 2 passes from quarterback Derek Carr.
On the touchdown pass in particular, Helu put on display the skills he was heralded for during the first four years of his career in Washington, where he was regarded as one of the best third-down running backs in the NFL, particularly lauded for his pass-catching ability.
Helu lined up in the backfield, then split wide, hauling in the short pass from Carr before making a pair of Bears defenders miss with a juke and entering the end zone for his first touchdown in Silver and Black.
Raiders Game Action from Soldier Field in Chicago during Week 4.
"It was pretty much as simple as it looked, honestly," Helu said postgame about the play. "I was just open. When there was someone who was off me, I just looked a little bit early and me and DC were just on the same page."
In the Week 4 game with the Bears, Helu was more involved in the offense than in weeks previous, but postgame he stressed that it really doesn't matter to him in what manner he sees the field – he just wants the team to be successful.
"I [couldn't] care less and that's being totally honest, because at the end of the day, this is a team sport," Helu said. "Whether I would have just gone out there and gotten special teams reps or not, I know that whatever me or Latavius [Murray] does is really a lot predicated on how well our line blocks, and they've been doing really good."
While Helu may not care how much he sees the field, his health and productivity may now be at more of a premium than ever, particularly since running back Taiwan Jones is still battling a foot injury.
Regardless of when his number is called though, Helu's mindset and approach will remain the same.
"I'd say that it would be important whoever is backing up anyone, it's your job to be prepared as if you're going to play as a starter, so that when something happens, because it's a collision game, you're not surprised," Helu said. "It's a physical game, whenever something may happen, which I hope doesn't, you better be ready."
