By the end of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders are struggling to maintain their health. In Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, the squad was missing tight end Michael Mayer, a rookie selected in the second round, and it appears he may be gone for some time.
Zach Gentry, a tight end, has been added to the Raiders’ active roster, as of December 27, the team stated.
Given that Gentry signed, there was conjecture that Mayer, who is currently sidelined by a toe ailment, would be done for the season.
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To potentially replace him, though, the Raiders placed tight end Jesper Horsted on the Injured Reserve. Whatever the case, it’s still important to monitor Mayer’s situation.
Gentry made his NFL debut in 2019 after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the fifth round. He played for the Steelers for four seasons before signing a 2023 contract to play for the Cincinnati Bengals. Before being plucked by the Raiders, he spent the entire season on the practice squad. Gentry is a huge tight end who excels in the blocking game and is 6-foot-8.
He won’t be able to take Mayer’s place in the passing game as he just has 39 receptions for 303 yards in his career. Nevertheless, if the Raiders need him to play big snaps in the remaining two games of the regular season, he should be an improvement as a block.
Josh Jacobs & Michael Mayer Miss Practice
The Raiders’ prospects of making the playoffs are beginning to look more likely after their victory over the Chiefs. But in the closing minutes, they might be without two important offensive players. Though he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve yet, Michael Mayer wasn’t there for the Raiders’ December 27 practice. There’s a strong possibility he won’t play against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17 because he was absent from the Chiefs game.
Josh Jacobs, the running back, did not practice with the club and was also sidelined against the Chiefs. He also missed the Los Angeles Chargers game in Week 15 due to a quad injury. The fact that the Raiders haven’t placed him on Injured Reserve yet suggests that they believe he can play again, though it’s unclear if he’ll be fit for the Colts. It’s possible he won’t return until Week 18 at the Denver Broncos.
In other developments, Kolton Miller, the left tackle, practiced limited and is closer to being the starting lineup again. He did not start in the game against the Chiefs.
Is the winning streak of the Las Vegas Raiders sustainable?
The Raiders appear to be among the hottest teams in the NFL after winning two straight games, but they still have several difficult games left before the season ends. The 8-7 Colts have been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. Regarding the AFC Wild Card playoff slots, they are among the teams that are ahead of the Raiders.
The Colts must be defeated if Las Vegas is to have any chance of qualifying for the postseason. Indianapolis recently suffered a heartbreaking 29-10 setback to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite his extreme uneven play, Gardner Minshew has kept the squad afloat this season. Right now, the Raiders defense is playing at a really high level, which should cause Minshew problems. Running the table isn’t impossible for Las Vegas, with two backup quarterbacks left for the remainder of the season.
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