Updated: Raiders have placed veteran RB Doug Martin on injured reserve

And then there were three. While the talk was surrounding whether the Raiders would hold onto four running backs, that talk has usually surrounded DeAndre Washington, who was the team’s fourth running back to begin last season. Well, the Raiders have made a move at running back and it wasn’t Washington. They’ve placed veteran Doug Martin on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

With Jon Gruden talking like there could be as many as five undrafted free agents make the team, Martin’s designation would figure to open the door for one of them. They are all at other positions, mind you, but keeping four running back plus a fullback was always a bit much.

Martin was brought back following the injury to Isaiah Crowell that had the free agent running back placed on injured reserve. Then the team drafted Josh Jacobs in the first round, making him the top back. Behind him figured to be Martin along with Washington and Jalen Richard. Now it is just Jacobs, Richard, and Washington as the favorites to be the Raiders running back room come the roster cutdown on August 31. Martin’s early release could be a courtesy to allow him to get a head start on catching on elsewhere.

Update: Martin was originally reported as having been released.