The Las Vegas Raiders were flattened by the New England Patriots on Sunday, and the 45-17 loss marked their roughest performance of the season. The offense managed only 17 points, its lowest total so far under Klint Kubiak, and the unit looked out of sync in a way it hasn’t for much of the year.
One reason that matters heading into Week 6: the Raiders played without Jalen Nailor for the first time this season. He sat out with a concussion, and even though his raw receiving numbers haven’t jumped off the page, his absence was still felt. Nailor gives Las Vegas speed that stretches defenses, and he’s also the kind of receiver who does the dirty work in the run game.
That could make the next few days important for the Raiders. On Monday, Kubiak said Nailor is expected to practice this week, a sign that he’s moving toward a return against the Buffalo Bills.
"I would expect Jalen [Nailor] to practice this week; see where he's at."
Klint Kubiak
Nailor opened the season in the lineup for the first three games and then logged just 19 snaps in the fourth before the concussion knocked him out in Week 5. Through his first action this year, he has been targeted 11 times and has five catches for 52 yards.
Those numbers don’t tell the full story, though. Nailor’s speed can pull coverage away from other targets, and his willingness as a blocker gives the offense more flexibility on the ground. That kind of impact matters even when the ball isn’t going his way.
The Raiders signed Nailor this offseason to a three-year deal worth $35.03 million, so the hope is obviously that he becomes more than a complementary piece. He’s coming off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings, when he caught 29 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns.
For now, Las Vegas just needs him back on the field. If everything goes smoothly this week, Nailor should have a chance to suit up in Week 6 as the Raiders try to bounce back against Buffalo.
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Laube also got on the board in the recent loss to New England, a small but meaningful sign that his role is becoming more visible as Las Vegas looks for dependable answers in key situations. For a team still trying to sort out its backfield rotation, his usage in passing situations is the clearest thread to watch, especially if the Raiders keep leaning on him as an all-around steady hand. [Read more 🡒]
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Other additions have been harder to square with the investment, and the ripple effects are showing up on Sundays. The pass rush still has not fully recovered, Malcolm Koonce has not regained his prior form after injury and the ground game remains a problem, leaving the Raiders with more questions than answers from a spending spree that was supposed to solve them. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rookies Just Sent Some Very Different Week 5 Messages
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The rookies who did get on the field produced a mixed review, which only added to the sense that this was a week of uneven messages from the young core. Some showed enough to encourage the staff moving forward, while others were left trying to recover from moments that swung the game in the Patriots favor, a reminder that for this roster, development and damage can show up on the same afternoon. [Read more 🡒]