HENDERSON, Nev. -- One is a legitimate rising star, a Pro Bowler who has already authored a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his first two years in the NFL.

The other is a legitimate starter, a multidimensional runner who has scored a combined 27 touchdowns by ground and by air over the past three seasons.

So how do Josh Jacobs, a first-round pick in 2019, and Kenyan Drake, a high-priced free-agent acquisition this spring, peacefully co-exist in the Las Vegas Raiders' offense, which, by the way, also features Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller and a young speedster at wideout in Henry Ruggs III for eighth-year quarterback Derek Carr?

"The sky's the limit, honestly," a breathless Jacobs said this week. "You see a lot of guys creating a lot of plays and you see Kenyan catching a lot of balls out of the backfield, making some good runs and things like that. If we stay healthy, it's going to be a special year for both of us."

At least, that's the plan, right?’

And there was a glimpse of it in Thursday's fight-marred joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, with Drake taking a swing pass in the left flat and racing down the sideline for a touchdown.

Not that Raiders coach Jon Gruden was willing to acknowledge the play, lest someone get a scouting report, right?

"Nah," Gruden shrugged, "we won't be doing much of that at all this year."

Except ...

Now, don't expect this to be a Tyrone Wheatley-Charlie Garner Thunder and Lighting 2.0-type of attack for a new generation. But there are similarities, fleeting as they might be.

Drake, who rushed for a career-high 955 yards last year for the Arizona Cardinals while also catching 25 passes, said coming to Las Vegas to back up and spell Jacobs gave him a certain "full-circle" feel to his career.

"I had a chance to come in and be a third-down back early in my career [in Miami] and learn behind Frank Gore, who, pretty much, gave me a blueprint on how to fall forward and get the most out of pretty much every carry," said Drake, who signed a two-year deal with the Raiders worth up to $14.5 million. "Instead of thinking, 'All right, I need to make a 10-yard gain, maybe the best situation is making a 2-yard gain and not losing a yard or two.'

"And now, I'm coming in behind Josh, I feel like this is the full circle ... so now I can just bring that all together. Catch the ball out of the backfield, spell Josh when I need to and, also, continue to get the yards that are there and not try to force anything."

The Raiders are the only team in the NFL with two running backs due to make at least $10 million in guaranteed money (Jacobs at more than $11.9 million, Drake at $11 million).

And while Jacobs missed sharing a backfield at Alabama with Drake by a year (Jacobs' first year in Tuscaloosa in 2016 was Drake's rookie year in the NFL), Jacobs actually recruited Drake to Las Vegas.

"Kenyan is a change-of-pace type back," Jacobs said. "He has what I call that X-factor type of explosiveness. So just to see him come in and give what he has to the team and see him line up in a wide receiver spot in the slot, it's definitely going to be huge for the team.

"I think this is the first time I've been in the running back room where it's just like, crazy. Since like 'Bama, really."

So, yeah, Las Vegas, which had the No. 14 running game in the league last year at 119.8 yards per game, wants big dividends out of its investment at running back.

Then there's the pass-catching aspect.

A year ago, Raiders running backs caught 86 passes, which ranked 11^th in the NFL, for 613 yards (12^th) and 1 TD (tied for 26^th). A 6.33 yards after the catch average was 28^th.

Drake has averaged 40 catches for 299.5 yards and 1.5 TDs the past four seasons, including his signature 53-catch, 477-yard, five-touchdown season in 2018 with Miami.

Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller sees a "really diverse offense" with the shorter but more powerful Jacobs running through holes and finishing downfield and the taller but shiftier Drake making people miss.

And that sounds fine to Drake, who referred to the "infectious personality" of Jacobs.

"His running style is obviously infectious as well, just because he just has this bruising style," Drake said. "Even in practice. It's not like he's trying to hurt our defense or anything like that, but he just has this explosiveness that makes you want to come in and mirror that type of energy.

"Seeing him and the things he's done the last two seasons, and this offense in general, I feel like I'm beating a dead horse but I'm excited just to continue to mature in this offense and see the great things that I know we can accomplish."