Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders

When the Las Vegas Raiders lost star running back Josh Jacobs to a high ankle sprain in Week 11—sidelining him for three critical games—many expected their offense to collapse, especially given Jacobs’ role as the team’s leading rusher (890 yards) and a key pass-catcher (28 receptions) up to that point. Instead, the Raiders’ coaching staff pivoted quickly, implementing a series of offensive adjustments that not only mitigated the loss but also unlocked new layers of their attack, keeping the team in playoff contention. Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders breaks down the intentional, data-driven changes the Raiders made—from shifting to a pass-heavy spread offense to elevating backup players—and how these adjustments turned a potential crisis into an opportunity to diversify their attack. For an offense that had relied heavily on Jacobs, the post-injury strategy proved that adaptability is just as critical as talent in the NFL.

Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the immediate tactical shift: a move from a run-dominant (52% run rate pre-injury) to a pass-heavy (68% pass rate post-injury) attack, designed to take advantage of the Raiders’ deep wide receiver corps. With Jacobs out, offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi leaned on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s ability to distribute the ball to Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and rookie wideout Tre Tucker. The staff simplified route combinations to focus on quick slants, outs, and screen passes—plays that minimized Garoppolo’s need to hold the ball (reducing sack risk) and allowed receivers to gain yards after the catch. In Week 12, the first game without Jacobs, this adjustment paid off: Garoppolo threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, Adams hauled in 11 catches for 153 yards, and the Raiders scored 34 points in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. “Losing Josh forced us to think differently, but we had the weapons to adapt,” Lombardi said. “We didn’t try to replace him—we restructured the offense to play to the strengths of the players we had. That’s the key to any post-injury strategy: don’t force a square peg into a round hole.”

A critical part of the Raiders’ post-injury strategy, highlighted in Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders, was the elevation of backup running backs Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, each given distinct roles to avoid overreliance on one player. White— a power runner with a 4.45 40-yard dash time—was tasked with short-yardage situations and between-the-tackles runs, while Abdullah, a shifty pass-catcher, handled third-down duties and screen passes. The coaching staff also designed “package plays” that featured both backs on the field together: White as a lead blocker for Abdullah on outside runs, or Abdullah lined up in the slot to create mismatches with linebackers. In Week 13, White rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Abdullah added 45 yards receiving on 6 catches, helping the Raiders edge the Denver Broncos 27-24. “We didn’t just hand Zamir and Ameer the ball—we gave them clear, specific roles that played to their strengths,” said running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu. “That clarity boosted their confidence, and it made the offense harder to defend because opponents couldn’t predict who would get the ball or how.”

Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders also delves into the Raiders’ use of tempo and formation changes to keep defenses off balance. Without Jacobs’ ability to control the clock with long runs, the staff implemented a no-huddle offense in 40% of their snaps (up from 15% pre-injury), forcing defenses to substitute quickly and limiting their ability to set up complex schemes. They also increased their use of “11 personnel” (1 running back, 1 tight end, 3 wide receivers) to 75% of plays, up from 55% pre-injury, and added more empty-backfield sets to spread out defenders. In Week 14’s win over the New England Patriots, this tempo shift was decisive: the Raiders ran 82 plays (20 more than their season average), and the no-huddle offense produced 17 of their 24 points. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this adjustment wasn’t just about compensating for Jacobs’ loss—it was about exploiting defenses that weren’t prepared to handle a faster, more spread-out attack. “Tempo is a weapon, especially when you’re missing a key player,” Lombardi explained. “It keeps defenses on their heels, and it lets us dictate the pace of the game instead of reacting to them.”

Another key element of the post-injury strategy, explored in Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders, was the emphasis on tight end Foster Moreau as a “hybrid weapon” to fill the pass-catching gap left by Jacobs. Moreau, who had primarily been used as a blocker pre-injury (65% of snaps as a blocker), saw his role expand to include slot receiver and inline pass-catcher, with the staff designing plays that isolated him against slower linebackers or smaller safeties. In the three games without Jacobs, Moreau caught 14 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 22-yard reception in Week 13 against the Broncos. The Raiders also used him as a “checkdown option” for Garoppolo, giving the quarterback a reliable target when primary receivers were covered. For the Las Vegas Raiders, Moreau’s emergence was a silver lining of Jacobs’ injury—unlocking a player who had been underutilized and adding a new dimension to their offense. “Foster had been waiting for an opportunity to show what he can do, and the injury gave him that chance,” said tight ends coach Todd Downing. “He’s become a critical part of our offense, even now that Josh is back. That’s the beauty of adjustments—they can turn role players into difference-makers.”

Looking at the long-term impact, Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders outlines how the post-injury changes have made the Raiders’ offense more versatile, even after Jacobs’ return in Week 14. The team has retained elements of the pass-heavy attack (now running a 58% pass rate) and continued to use White and Abdullah in rotational roles, keeping Jacobs fresh for critical moments. They’ve also kept Moreau involved in the passing game, with his snap count as a receiver remaining 40% higher than pre-injury. This versatility was on display in Week 15, when the Raiders used a mix of run-heavy sets (with Jacobs) and spread formations (with Moreau and the wideouts) to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the post-injury strategy wasn’t just a short-term fix—it was a long-term upgrade that made their offense harder to scout and defend. “Injuries are never ideal, but they force you to grow,” head coach Josh McDaniels said. “We learned that we’re more than a one-man offense, and that adaptability will serve us well in the playoffs and beyond.”

Offensive Adjustments Post-Injury Strategy for the Las Vegas Raiders ultimately tells a story of proactive problem-solving—a team that didn’t wait for adversity to derail them, but instead used it as a catalyst to evolve. By focusing on player strengths, simplifying tactics, and embracing tempo and formation diversity, the Raiders turned the loss of a star player into an opportunity to build a more resilient, multi-faceted offense. For Garoppolo, the wide receivers, and even Jacobs (who returned to a more efficient role), the adjustments boosted confidence and created a more balanced attack. In the NFL, where injuries are inevitable, the Raiders’ post-injury strategy serves as a blueprint for how teams can turn setbacks into strengths—proving that with the right plan, no single injury has to define a season. As the Raiders push for the playoffs, their adaptable offense remains one of their greatest assets, a testament to the power of intentional, player-focused adjustments.