Derek Carr isn’t ready to sound the alarm on the Raiders’ run game.
Yes, Las Vegas has had a hard time getting consistent production on the ground in recent weeks. But Carr sees that as a temporary problem, not a permanent flaw. Speaking on the Home Grown podcast, he pointed to the coaches he knows well and said the pieces are in place for the rushing attack to come around.
“The run game hasn’t been going well yet, but I promise you, the one thing I know about Klint [Kubiak], I know and [offensive line coach Rick Dennison and [offensive coordinator] Andrew Janocko, that thing is going to get humming,” Carr said on the Home Grown podcast.
He didn’t stop there. Carr said the turnaround could happen this season, or it could take longer if the Raiders need more personnel help down the line.
“When it happens, now it may it may be this year, it may be next year when they add a couple more pieces that fit, whatever that is, whenever that gets going, they might score 50 a game. You know what’s crazy is they couldn’t even get to the line of scrimmage last year in the run game.
This has already shown some actual life. There are some life things that have been shown.
Is it great yet? No.
Some of those things you can change overnight. They’ve done the schematic change, now they’re learning a new system for however many times in a row.
Once they get this down, I promise they’ll be fine.”
Klint Kubiak, meanwhile, has been talking in similar terms. Last week, the Raiders head coach said the team needs to get back to what worked in Week 1, when the offense was more efficient on the ground.
“Going back to that first game, just as a whole unit, we played better,” Kubiak said. “We were more efficient running the football, and that’s something we’ve got to get back to and it’s something that we’re diligent about. We’re practicing, and it’s players and coaches working together.”
The problem is that every opponent presents a different challenge, and not every team is the Miami Dolphins.
Defenses have also been loading up to stop the run, which has helped open the door for Kirk Cousins to post big numbers.
There could also be movement coming on the interior of the offensive line. Caleb Rogers has been pushing Jackson Powers-Johnson and Spencer Burford, and the second-year guard might be in line for a bigger role this week against the Bills.
In Other News...
Three Raiders Matchups Could Decide Everything Against Buffalo
At 3-2, the Raiders head into Week 6 with a chance to measure themselves against one of the AFCs sturdier early-season teams, and the test starts in the trenches and on the perimeter. Maxx Crosby against Buffalos right tackle stands out as the kind of edge battle that can shape an entire afternoon, while Las Vegas will also need clean work from its cornerbacks against rookie receiver Keon Coleman and steady help inside from Spencer Burford at left guard against Deone Walker.
The matchup picture could change if Buffalos injury situation tilts the balance at a couple of spots, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game that already feels like a swing point for both teams. For the Raiders, the broader issue is simple: if those one-on-one duels break their way, they can travel to Buffalo and make a real statement, but if they dont, the margin for error against a 4-1 opponent gets very thin very quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Bowers Looks Even More Dangerous In Klint Kubiaks New Role
Brock Bowers has already looked like one of the most dangerous pieces in the Raiders passing game, but the way Klint Kubiak is deploying him in 2026 has only sharpened that edge. Instead of staying attached to the formation like a traditional tight end, Bowers is spending more time split out wide and being asked to work as a downfield target, a usage pattern that echoes how Kubiak featured Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the Seahawks a year ago.
The early returns have been hard to ignore. Bowers is leading all tight ends in yards per route run and, even with only three games under his belt, ranks 20th in the NFL in receiving yards. The bigger question for the Raiders is how far Kubiak keeps leaning into this expanded role, because the more Bowers is treated like a perimeter receiver, the harder he is to game-plan for. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Hints At Changes That Could Decide Buffalo Game
The latest Raiders depth chart offers a useful snapshot of where this roster stands heading into a Week 6 matchup with the Bills, and it also hints at how much can still shift before kickoff. Las Vegas is still sorting out how to maximize its talent, with the chart reflecting ongoing evaluations of players' roles, performance and how the staff wants to shape the rotation for Buffalo.
One of the more interesting spots to watch is on special teams, where the return game could see another adjustment if the coaches decide they need a different look. Up front, the offensive line still carries some uncertainty as Jackson Powers-Johnson works back toward form after missing time, and the left side remains an area the Raiders have to keep tightening if they want to give their offense a cleaner path against a difficult opponent. [Read more 🡒]