After two straight losses slowed the buzz around their hot start, the Las Vegas Raiders are staring straight at the flaw that keeps showing up: the ground game.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said Wednesday the staff is trying to clean things up without burying the players under too much information.
“You got to keep it bite-sized,” mentioned Kubiak on Wednesday when asked about what he and the coaching staff were zeroing in on this week.
“If you’re going to try to accomplish something, then you got to be very intentional about these things, and if your list is trying to do ten things, it’s probably not going to be very good at them. Just trying to give them intentional coaching points that we can accomplish each day.”
The biggest issue has been there all season. Entering Week Six, the Raiders rank last in the NFL at three yards per carry, and Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots did nothing to ease the concern. Once Las Vegas fell into an early deficit it couldn’t climb out of, the running game was essentially taken out of the equation.
That problem has been made even more complicated by the questions around Ashton Jeanty’s health. Those issues have lingered since the end of training camp, and Jeanty showed up on the injury report against the Patriots from Thursday on because of ankle and foot injuries. He still played in the game, but the situation sparked another round of discussion.
Kubiak said Jeanty was playing against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, and he also offered a positive update on the rookie’s physical condition.
“I think Ashton is starting to feel a lot better physically,” said Kubiak about an update on Jeanty. “Excited about giving even more reps in practice and more full-speed reps.”
The Raiders may also have help coming from elsewhere in the backfield. Dylan Laube scored the first touchdown of his career against the Patriots, and Mike Washington Jr. continues to flash growth. Washington is still getting a feel for the details of the position, but Kubiak said there’s room for him to earn more work as a fourth-round rookie.
His role will depend on how he responds, but the trust is there. Kirk Cousins was clear about what Washington brings.
“Mike has a lot of juice and I think he’s been showing that going back to practices,” said quarterback Kirk Cousins about Washington.
“Mike’s one of those guys that I think good things happen when the football’s in his hand, and you want those kind of guys on your team and you want them impacting the game.”
The timing could help the Raiders. They face a Buffalo defense that ranks fifth in the NFL in points allowed at 28.2 per game, giving Las Vegas a chance to get something moving offensively.
If there’s a week to finally get the rushing attack rolling, this is it.
In Other News...
Raiders Face A Big Fernando Mendoza Question At Wide Receiver
The Raiders have a quarterback picture that already invites questions, with Kirk Cousins in the starting role and rookie Fernando Mendoza viewed as the long-term answer. Even with that transition in mind, the bigger issue around the offense may be the lack of proven wide receiver help, a problem that has left the front office and observers looking for ways to add a legitimate target to the passing game.
One name that has surfaced in the conversation is a receiver who appears to have slipped in Jacksonville, which is exactly the kind of situation that can spark trade speculation this time of year. For Las Vegas, the appeal is obvious: if the Raiders want to make life easier for Cousins now and for Mendoza down the road, they may need to keep pushing on the market for a receiver who can change the shape of the room, even if the cost and fit remain unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Struggles Are Fueling A Quarterback Debate
The Raiders offensive problems have started to reach beyond the usual blame game, with the passing attack and ground game both undercutting any sense of rhythm. Kirk Cousins has had a hard time settling in when defenses turn up the pressure, and the recent stretch has only sharpened the conversation around how the team should handle the quarterback position as it moves forward.
Against that backdrop, Brock Purdy has begun to emerge as a name worth watching for a bigger role if the Raiders decide to change course in the weeks ahead. No official decision has been made, and the team still has time to sort through its options, but the broader issue is clear: the offense has not given the staff much reason to stand pat. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Catch Buffalo At The Perfect Time In Week 6
The Bills entered Week 6 with a long injury report, and the Raiders are looking at a matchup that could hinge on who is actually able to suit up. Buffalo listed 15 players, while Las Vegas had 12 of its own, setting up a meeting where health may matter almost as much as form. For a Raiders team trying to find an edge on the road, that is the kind of week that can quietly reshape the game plan before the teams ever kick off.
Wednesday practice only sharpened the uncertainty in Buffalo. DJ Moore and Ed Oliver were the only Bills players who did not participate, and both were already unavailable in the previous game, leaving their status something to monitor closely as the week unfolds. Las Vegas has its own questions, with Tonka Hemingway and Jalen Nailor in concussion protocol and their availability still up in the air, so this one may end up being decided as much by the injury report as by anything that happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]