The Raiders left Levi’s Stadium with more than a 38-17 loss to the 49ers. They also left with their next move hanging in the balance.
After Las Vegas dropped to 4-5 in Week 9, Klint Kubiak was asked whether the defeat would shape how the team approaches the trade deadline, which is just two days away. His answer made it clear the Raiders are still sorting through what comes next.
“Every day, the calculus changes. You get new information about your team, and that goes into the decision-making moving forward.”
That uncertainty is only growing around Kirk Cousins, who threw three interceptions in the loss and is taking plenty of heat as fans wait for hotshot rookie Fernando Mendoza to potentially get a shot at the job. The conversation around the quarterback spot is only part of the picture, though. Las Vegas also got pushed around on defense, surrendering more than 400 yards to a depleted San Francisco team.
Brock Purdy led the 49ers, with unheralded wideout Jordan Watkins serving as his top target. George Kittle also turned in a strong performance in the win.
On the Raiders’ side, Ashton Jeanty’s struggles continued with just 25 rushing yards. Brock Bowers was the bright spot, piling up 111 receiving yards and a touchdown while continuing his standout run at tight end.
There’s a growing sense among many Raiders fans that Mendoza is ready for extended game action, and that could put Cousins on the move before the week is out. Kubiak’s group has already shuffled its wide receiver room recently as part of its forward-looking approach.
Las Vegas could go several ways from here. The Raiders might keep Cousins and focus on reinforcing the defense.
They could also take a smaller sell-off approach and add draft capital for next season. Either way, Kubiak’s message was the same: the picture is changing fast, and the Raiders’ future is very much in motion.
In Other News...
Raiders Trade Deadline Silence Says Plenty About Their Real Direction
The trade deadline has a way of forcing teams to show their hand, and in Las Vegas, the early read is that the Raiders are not eager to make a splash. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, the team has not gotten trade inquiries for quarterback Kirk Cousins or defensive star Maxx Crosby, and there is no indication of any immediate move involving either player. For now, the Raiders are expected to keep Cousins as their starting quarterback, which at least suggests the front office is not looking to reset the position in the middle of the season.
Crosbys name naturally draws attention whenever deadline chatter starts, but the silence around him may be just as telling as any actual offer. The question is whether the Raiders are simply being careful in public or whether the market is telling them something more blunt about their current place in the league. Either way, the lack of movement points to a team that may be more focused on holding steady than chasing a dramatic deadline pivot. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Loss Exposed One Roster Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Raiders Week 9 loss to the 49ers was another reminder that the margin for error on this roster is still thin. Las Vegas fell behind early and spent much of the afternoon trying to claw back after a game filled with mistakes on both sides of the ball, even as a few players offered reasons for optimism in the middle of the mess.
Jeanty continued to provide some needed support in the rushing game, and the defensive backfield had at least one encouraging moment from Stukes, but those bright spots did not change the bigger picture. The front office is expected to spend the offseason looking hard at the defensive backfield and other areas that need help, because this game made it clear the Raiders still have work to do before they can consistently keep pace in matchups like this. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Bowers Keeps Giving Raiders Fans One Reason To Watch
Even in a lopsided 38-17 loss to the 49ers, Brock Bowers kept giving Raiders fans something to hold onto. The rookie tight end caught seven of eight targets for 111 yards and a touchdown, continuing a stretch that has made him the most reliable piece in Las Vegas passing game and one of the few reasons the offense still feels watchable on a weekly basis.
Bowers production has piled up fast enough to put him in rare company, and it has come while the Raiders have dropped five of their last six. The challenge now is turning individual brilliance into something that changes the bigger picture, with Seattle up next and the margin for another wasted outing getting thinner by the week. [Read more 🡒]