The Las Vegas Raiders will take a slightly altered roster into their Week 7 meeting with the Los Angeles Rams, and the biggest news is what is not on the inactive list. Mike Washington Jr. and Quay Walker are both active after entering the game questionable, a sign they made it through pregame workouts without restrictions.
The Raiders’ inactives are quarterback Aidan O’Connell, listed as the emergency third quarterback, along with safeties Tristin McCollum and Dalton Johnson, defensive tackles Thomas Booker IV and Jonah Laulu, defensive end Cian Slone, and interior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue.
The most notable wrinkle comes inside at defensive tackle. With Booker IV and Laulu both sidelined, Las Vegas elevated Tim Keenan III from the practice squad on Saturday, and he will make his Raiders debut against the Rams. The big nose tackle spent the offseason with Los Angeles as well, so he brings some built-in familiarity with this matchup and will be asked to help slow the run game.
Slone was elevated for the second time this season, but he is inactive again. The Raiders keep bringing him up without using him on game day, though his repeated elevations suggest he is at least making a push with his work in practice.
On the Rams’ side, the biggest question centered on Puka Nacua after he got hurt in practice Thursday and then sat out Friday. Early-morning reports pointed toward him being available, and he is indeed active for Week 7.
Los Angeles will, however, be without cornerback Trent McDuffie again. That matters for a Rams defense already missing starting linebacker Nate Landman, and it leaves them with fewer options to deal with Las Vegas’ tight end pairing of Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
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Raiders Suddenly Have A New Worry About The Rams Passing Game
The Raiders preparation for the Rams just got a little trickier, because Los Angeles is still holding out hope that Puka Nacua will be available for the matchup despite the calf issue that had him on the injury report. Nacua was feeling better Saturday and is now being treated as a game-time decision, which matters even more for a Rams passing game that already lost Davante Adams to a hamstring injury.
For Las Vegas, the concern is less about any one name than what happens if Nacua suits up and becomes the centerpiece of the Rams aerial attack. With Adams unavailable, Los Angeles is leaning harder on the passing game than it otherwise would, and the Raiders will have to plan for the possibility that Nacua is on the field after all. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Have A Real Chance To Exploit One Rams Weakness
The Raiders head into Week 7 with a matchup that could tilt in their favor if they can press a Rams roster dealing with injury issues at wide receiver. Las Vegas has reasons to like this spot, too, especially with its own tight end group looking like a usable part of the passing game and the Rams potentially forced to lean more heavily on their tight ends to keep the offense moving.
For the Raiders, that creates an opening to attack a weakened spot while still leaning into what has been one of their more workable personnel groupings. Michael Mayer and Dylan Laube are both names to watch in that conversation, since the game could push Las Vegas toward more involvement from the tight end position and more opportunity for backfield help in passing situations, even if the exact shape of that usage remains to be seen. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Need One Overlooked Edge To Beat The Rams
With a crucial game against the Rams looming, the Raiders are looking beyond the usual offensive and defensive talking points and zeroing in on special teams as a place to gain an edge. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has made it clear that improving that phase is a priority, with the Raiders trying to sharpen their overall execution and take advantage of a Los Angeles unit that has had its own issues in recent seasons.
The opportunity is there for Las Vegas to turn a hidden part of the game into something more impactful, especially if the coverage unit can clean up its work and the return game can provide a spark. The Raiders have also been searching for ways to create more explosiveness on returns, with Dylan Laube and Malik Benson among the names tied to that push, and Sunday offers a chance to make special teams matter in a game where every edge could count. [Read more 🡒]