How the Raiders' Plan to Compensate for Loss of Jakobi Meyers
The similarities between this season's Las Vegas Raiders team and last season's Raiders are uncanny.
Raiders' Void to Fill
For the second consecutive season, the Raiders traded away their top wide receiver. Jakobi Meyers' situation was vastly different from Davante Adams', but the result was the same. Las Vegas again has to adjust to life without the top receiver they began the season with.
This is undoubtedly a challenge for everyone involved, especially offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback Geno Smith. The Raiders refused to trade Meyers at the start of the season because of how critical he was to the offense. That spoke volumes about Meyers' value to the Raiders.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Shortly before trading Meyers, the Raiders signed veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The addition of Lockett should help somewhat negate Meyers' departure. As the Raiders prepared for Week 12, Smith explained how the Raiders planned to make up for the loss of Meyers.
"Yeah, I mean I don't think you can ever fill that void. I think Jakobi [Meyers] was just such a special guy, and he did a lot around here, and he's well respected in the locker room and guys really loved him. Tyler [Lockett] is his own person, and again, Tyler is a veteran who's played a lot of football,” Smith said.
“He's caught a lot of passes. He understands defenses, and I think that will help the younger guys. If you look at Tyler, he's not the most - he's the most unassuming guy. You wouldn't look at him and say he's had all the success he's had on the football field, but he's done it because he can play from the neck up, and that's where we want to get everybody to, to that level where they understand the game and can be quarterback friendly and play from the neck up as well."
Smith elaborated on what he feels Lockett brings to the Raiders' offense. Lockett brings not only years of experience around the National Football League with him, but years of experience with Smith himself, in Seattle. That should go a long way in helping Smith become more comfortable.
"I mean, he's always going to make the play when the play needs to be made. I mean, that's Tyler Lockett. It's been his entire career where he's always been in the right spot. He understands where the holes are in the defense, and then he catches the ball. He gets open and catches the ball. I mean, that's the number one rule for receiver," Smith said.
"Again, he's a guy, along with the other guys, who we justwant to give him the ball when the time's right, but we've got to continue to spread the ball around and get the ball into the hands of all of our playmakers. I think Tyler is a guy who's going to help this offense really down the stretch."
Aaron Rodgers’ Wrist Injury Could Stifle Pittsburgh Steelers’ Playoff Hopes
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to fend off the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 despite losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a wrist injury.
Sunday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the initial fear from one source is that Rodgers suffered “a slight break” in his wrist. Rodgers will undergo further testing on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury and how much time will be missed.
Schefter elaborated that it’s shaping up to be backup quarterback Mason Rudolph against the Chicago Bears next week.
Rudolph was 12-of-16 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown in relief of Rodgers. He was able to seal the 34-12 victory against the Bengals and send the Steelers to 6-4.
The Cleveland Browns didn’t do the Steelers any favors when they collapsed against the Baltimore Ravens. But with a 6-4 record, the Steelers are still on top of the 5-5 Ravens and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
But if Rodgers is forced to miss significant time, playoff hopes in Pittsburgh could be all but over.
This offseason, the Steelers signed the 41-year-old hoping to upgrade from Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, who both departed in free agency. While Rodgers took his time committing to Pittsburgh formally, the Steelers brought back Rudolph who flamed out in his lone season with the Tennessee Titans. They also drafted Ohio State quarterback Will Howard on Day 3.
Without Rodgers, this Steelers squad barely has a chance. Even though Rudolph is in his sixth season of serving a backup role, he’s been wildly inconsistent when given significant action. The Titans were starving for a solution at quarterback when they turned to him, and he threw nine touchdown passes to nine interceptions.
More importantly, this Steelers offense leaves a ton to be desired.
Running back Jaylen Warren somehow isn’t used enough on a weekly basis. DK Metcalf was a big offseason acquisition who has been inconsistent. But outside of Metcalf? Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson are Pittsburgh’s other pass catching options.
The Steelers have the luxury of playing in a dreadful AFC North, but the Ravens are coming. Lamar Jackson was horrible in Week 11’s win against the Browns, but the Ravens still mustered an impressive win against an elite defense. They’ve won four straight games.
While Rudolph put together a respectable stat line in replacement of Rodgers, everybody knows how bad Cincinnati's defense has been.
The Bears are 7-3 and host the Steelers on Sunday. After that, the Steelers host the Buffalo Bills before traveling to Baltimore. Things are getting serious in Pittsburgh, and they could be without their starting quarterback.
