Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders

As the Las Vegas Raiders cling to fading playoff hopes, a critical boost has emerged from the team’s practice fields: the return of two key players—starting tight end Foster Moreau and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery—who have been sidelined with injuries since Week 14. Both Moreau (knee sprain) and Tillery (shoulder strain) participated in full team drills during Wednesday’s practice, marking their first significant action since exiting the Raiders’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. For a team that has struggled with depth on both offense and defense in recent weeks, their return isn’t just a roster addition—it’s a renewal of confidence, as the Raiders now have two proven contributors back in the fold to help mount a late-season comeback. Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders explores how these players’ return impacts the team’s strategy, morale, and chances of sneaking into the AFC playoffs.

Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the significance of Foster Moreau’s return to the Raiders’ offense, which has lacked a reliable second receiving option behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. Moreau, who has 28 catches for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns this season, is more than just a pass-catcher—he’s a versatile tight end who excels at blocking in the run game and creating mismatches against linebackers in the passing game. Without him, the Raiders’ offense became predictable: defenses focused on double-teaming Adams, and rookie tight end Michael Mayer (who filled in for Moreau) struggled to replicate Moreau’s consistency, catching just 9 passes for 85 yards in three starts. “Foster is the glue of our tight end room,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said after practice. “He can block a 300-pound defensive end, then run a route and beat a linebacker for a first down. That versatility opens up so much for our offense—we can run more two-tight end sets, keep defenses guessing, and take pressure off Davante. Having him back changes everything.” Moreau himself looked sharp in practice, hauling in a 25-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell during red-zone drills and holding his own in blocking drills against defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce.

A second key development from the practice return is Jerry Tillery’s return to the defensive line, which has been thin at tackle since he went down with a shoulder strain. Tillery, who was acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Chargers in October, has quickly become a staple of the Raiders’ run defense, recording 26 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 quarterback hits in 10 games. Without him, the Raiders allowed 185 rushing yards to the Cleveland Browns in Week 16—a season high—and struggled to stop short-yardage plays, converting just 33% of opponent third-and-short attempts in his absence. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham emphasized Tillery’s impact after practice: “Jerry clogs up the middle, which lets our linebackers flow to the ball. When he’s not in there, teams can run right up the gut, and that puts pressure on our entire defense. Seeing him back out there—staying low, using his hands, making tackles—was a huge lift for everyone. He’s a guy who doesn’t get a lot of headlines, but he’s irreplaceable for us.” Tillery participated in all defensive line drills Wednesday, including one-on-ones against offensive linemen Dylan Parham and Andre James, and showed no signs of discomfort in his shoulder.

Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders also includes the boost in team morale that accompanied the two players’ return, which has been palpable in the Raiders’ locker room and practice facility for the Las Vegas Raiders. Players and coaches alike acknowledged that the mood has shifted from frustration to optimism since Moreau and Tillery rejoined the team. “You could feel the energy at practice today—guys were laughing, competing harder, and talking about winning these last two games,” linebacker Denzel Perryman said. “When you get key players back, it’s not just about their talent—it’s about the confidence they bring. Foster and Jerry are guys who’ve been in big games, who know how to win, and that rubs off on everyone. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this is exactly the spark we needed to get our playoff push back on track.” Even head coach Josh McDaniels, who has been cautious in his optimism this season, admitted that the returns have given the team a much-needed lift: “Any time you get two starters back who are as important as Foster and Jerry, it’s a positive. But what I liked most today was the way the team rallied around them—guys were cheering them on during drills, and you could see the belief starting to come back. That’s the kind of energy we need to finish strong.”

Another important angle is the Raiders’ adjusted game plan for Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, which will now incorporate Moreau and Tillery in key roles for the Las Vegas Raiders. Olson revealed that the offense will feature more two-tight end sets with Moreau and Mayer, allowing the Raiders to run more power-run plays (which they’ve struggled with without Moreau’s blocking) and target Moreau in the middle of the field, where the Broncos’ linebackers have been vulnerable. On defense, Graham said Tillery will start at nose tackle and be tasked with stopping Broncos running back Javonte Williams, who has rushed for 890 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. “We’ve spent the last two weeks adjusting to life without Foster and Jerry, but now we can go back to the plays that were working for us earlier in the season,” Graham said. “Having Jerry in the middle means we can focus on stopping the run first, which will force Denver to pass more—and that’s where Maxx [Crosby] and our edge rushers can take over. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this game plan is designed to play to our strengths, and having those two back lets us do that.” The Raiders also plan to limit Moreau and Tillery’s snap counts in Week 17 to avoid re-injury, with Mayer and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols set to spell them in certain packages.

Finally, Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up with the realistic playoff implications of these returns, and why they’ve given the Raiders a fighting chance despite long odds for the Las Vegas Raiders. Entering Week 17, the Raiders sit at 7-8, two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for the final AFC wild-card spot, and need to win their last two games (against the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs) while getting help from at least three other teams. While the odds are still stacked against them, the return of Moreau and Tillery has made that long shot feel more attainable. “We know it’s a long road, but we also know we’re a better team with Foster and Jerry,” O’Connell said. “This league is about momentum, and getting them back gives us that. We’re not here to just play out the string—we’re here to win, and now we have the pieces to do it.” NFL analyst Mike Florio, who covers the Raiders for Pro Football Talk, echoed that sentiment: “The Raiders weren’t going to make the playoffs without Moreau and Tillery—they just didn’t have the depth. Now, they have a legitimate chance to win these last two games, and if they do, who knows what can happen? Stranger things have happened in the NFL. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this is a chance to rewrite their season’s story—to go from a team that faded down the stretch to one that fought until the end.” As the Raiders prepare to face the Broncos, the practice return of Moreau and Tillery has given fans and players alike a reason to believe—a reminder that in the NFL, hope can return as quickly as a player stepping back onto the practice field. Comeback Hopes Rise with Practice Return for the Las Vegas Raiders ultimately shows that even when playoff odds seem insurmountable, the return of key contributors can reignite a team’s fire—and turn “impossible” into “possible.”