Marshawn Lynch is expected to return to the Raiders in 2018.

Lynch's status with the Raiders has been uncertain this offseason.

"There's no question he's still a beast," said Jon Gruden. "I'm counting on him."

The Oakland Raiders don't know if Marshawn Lynch will return to the field next season, but Jon Gruden says the team needs a "full-time" Lynch to succeed.

Gruden was responding to a question about Lynch not rounding into football shape until the second half of last season.

"We're not going to have that," Gruden replied.

"No. I said to him: 'I need Marshawn Lynch. I don't need this part-time Lynch. I need full-time Lynch,'" the coach said, recounting a meeting with the running back.

"We need the real deal," he continued. "If you're going to put those letters on the back of your jersey, man, you've got to back it up, Marshawn -- right? We don't need another back, we need a feature back."

Jon Gruden is not sure if Marshawn Lynch will return to the Oakland Raiders next season.

"I don’t know. I bumped into him," said Gruden. "Some of these players that live locally do come to the facility to get a workout, see the trainer. I’ve been downstairs and met several guys. I have talked to Marshawn briefly. We’ll see. We’ll keep everybody posted. Right now, he’s our leading ballcarrier. He’s our back, and we’re counting on him. Hopefully we get an opportunity to work together. That’s a man that has a lot of respect in this league as a player and I certainly have respect for him also."

Lynch came out of retirement last season to join the Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders informed Sebastian Janikowski on Wednesday that they won't bring the kicker back for the 2018 season, according to a source.

Janikowski, an 18-year veteran, is the Raiders' all-time scoring leader with 1,799 points -- 11th in NFL history. He spent last season in injured reserve.

He will turn 40 in March and will be an unrestricted free agent.