Has Trent Richardson carried his final ball for the Oakland Raiders?

It has become fairly obvious based on training-camp reports and preseason performances that Trent Richardson has an uphill climb to make the Oakland Raiders’ 53-man roster. 

The former No. 3 overall pick has struggled, rushing 15 times for 42 yards. Yes, he burst through the hole, just like the salad days at Alabama, for a 15-yard gain late against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night. But it was a glimpse of what was, not what is.

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Latavius Murray is the Raiders’ starter, and it appears that Roy Helu, Taiwan Jones and even Michael Dyer, Richardson’s former rival and counterpart from Auburn who has taken the roundabout way to the NFL as an undrafted rookie, look like better options in the backfield. Throw in versatile fullback Marcel Reece, and Richardson is a candidate to be slashed from the roster as early as Tuesday.

Richardson now could be traded or released by three teams — three teams that have struggled to run the ball consistently in recent years, mind you — in a span of 23 months, and we could be looking at one of the biggest top-of-the-draft busts in the past 15-20 years.

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It’s easy to forget just how good this guy was in college and at least where Richardson stood following a promising rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. At worst, he looked like a functional power back with a little burst but little big-play prowess. There have been plenty of those backs who have made a decent career for themselves; think Alfred Morris and what he has become.

That could have been Richardson. Instead, we’re left to wonder if he even will get another chance this season in the NFL. 

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm