The Raiders go into Week 7 with a depth chart that leaves plenty of room for questions, and the timing is not ideal. Las Vegas is back home to face the Los Angeles Rams, and this is already another early measuring stick for Klint Kubiak’s group.
The biggest concern sits in the backfield, where Washington’s practice status has suddenly made the running back spot look fragile. Jeanty, by the source’s account, is clearly not healthy, and that puts extra weight on what happens around him.
There are also warning lights across the offensive line. The guard situation is still shaky, and that makes the interior worth watching closely on Sunday.
Linderbaum can be better than he was against the Bills, while Powers-Johnson remains listed as the starter even though that designation has not meant much from week to week. He was in that same spot last week too, but Rogers got the start at right guard.
That position battle is one of the most important items on the entire roster this week.
At receiver, Nailor did not fill up the stat sheet, but his return changed the shape of the offense against Buffalo in a way that was missing the week before against the New England Patriots. Tucker’s long touchdown grab was another reminder of what happens when the unit is able to push the field vertically. And the Raiders may need to find more ways to involve Zuhn going forward.
There is also a clear note of urgency around the tight end group. Butler’s veteran presence and production matter even more with Hemingway’s health in question, and Hemingway’s absence stands out badly. The Raiders should try to get Johnson more snaps if they can.
On defense, Dean has become the kind of middle linebacker this unit needed. He has helped steady the whole group. Walker has flashed, especially against the run and when getting after the quarterback, but the Raiders still need to do more to help him in coverage through the play-calling.
The secondary has its own issues. The Raiders could use more from all three cornerbacks, even though Stukes bounced back well against the Bills after two rough weeks.
Pola-Mao continues to bring value in his own way, but Stukes is the player opposing offenses will keep testing. That is not an accident.
It is because he is central to what the defense does.
The challenge for Stukes is simple in theory and hard in practice: avoid the big play and use his speed to cut down yards after the catch. If offenses can force him out of position on pass plays, that is close to the worst possible outcome for this defense, outside of injury. The repeated targets are also a sign that opponents respect how important he is.
Chinn has been steady, and the Raiders have larger issues than his play.
Special teams has held its own in spots. Cole’s punts have quietly helped both sides of the ball, and Gay has been one of the most dependable players on the roster.
But the return game remains unsettled after Young’s late fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs. Most teams the Raiders face the rest of the season are expected to kick to him instead of Laube, and if that is the case, Young has to make them pay with explosive returns while protecting the football.
Benson and Laube are both on the list as options, and the Raiders may look elsewhere to jump-start a punt return unit that has gone quiet. If they stick with what they have, Benson still has a chance to make an impact.
Even then, a lot may depend on whether opponents can punt high and deep enough to let their gunners get downfield. If that happens, fair catches could take over anyway.
In Other News...
Raiders Trade Deadline Could Decide Their Biggest Weakness
The Raiders have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, but one of the old issues is still hanging around. Las Vegas has seen signs of progress up front, yet the offensive line remains a concern as the season moves along, and it has become the clearest area where the front office could still make a difference.
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has stressed the staffs detailed, incremental approach to the unit, focusing on small weekly gains rather than treating the line like a finished product. That leaves the trade deadline as a meaningful checkpoint for the Raiders, who have to decide whether to keep developing the current group or look for a move that could stabilize the interior and give the offense a better chance to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Is Heating Up For One Complicated Reason
Maxx Crosby keeps doing what hes always done for the Raiders, which is stress quarterbacks and make life miserable even when the box score does not always fully capture it. Through six games, he has piled up 15 quarterback hits and sits tied for third in the NFL in that category, a reminder that his impact goes well beyond the sack total and into the daily problem-solving that defines elite pass rushers.
Even so, his name has not escaped trade chatter, and that is where the conversation gets complicated for Las Vegas. The league has seen rushers with similar production move for less draft capital than fans might expect, and Crosbys contract situation only adds another layer to the debate, which is why his value keeps coming up whenever teams start wondering what a premium defender is really worth. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Have A Trade Deadline Chance They Can't Ignore
At 3-3, Las Vegas is squarely in the middle of the AFC picture but also close enough to the edge to treat the November 10 trade deadline like a real decision point. The Raiders have already given themselves reason to think about adding help, and one name that keeps surfacing is Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a veteran lineman who could give the front a much-needed boost if the right deal materializes.
Buckner also fits the kind of conversation that tends to follow a deadline with stakes: he is in a contract year, he has the resume to draw interest, and the asking price would not be limited to money alone. For the Raiders, the question is whether a move that improves the defense now is worth the draft capital it would take to get it done, especially with other teams expected to be involved before the clock runs out. [Read more 🡒]