Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 season has evolved into a brutal test of roster depth, as a wave of midseason injuries, combined with a grueling AFC West schedule, has forced the team to rely on backup players and practice squad call-ups in key positions. What began as a promising campaign—with the Raiders sitting at 5-2 after seven games—has since become a battle to maintain competitiveness, as injuries to starters like running back Josh Jacobs, left tackle Kolton Miller, and safety Tre’von Moehrig have exposed gaps in the team’s depth chart. For a franchise aiming to end its playoff drought, this stretch has not only tested the talent of fringe players but also the coaching staff’s ability to adapt game plans on the fly. Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders breaks down how the Raiders have navigated these obstacles, the performance of their backup players, and the long-term implications for the team’s roster construction.

Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders first focuses on the injury crisis that sparked the depth concerns, starting with the Week 8 loss of Josh Jacobs to a high-ankle sprain. Jacobs, who had rushed for 720 yards and 5 touchdowns in the first seven games, was the engine of the Raiders’ running game—accounting for 65% of the team’s rushing yards. His absence forced the Raiders to turn to rookie Zamir White, a 2025 fourth-round pick who had spent most of his career on the practice squad. White, while physical, lacked Jacobs’ vision and pass-catching ability, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry in his first four starts and dropping two critical third-down passes. The injury bug spread quickly: in Week 9, left tackle Kolton Miller suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for four games, and safety Tre’von Moehrig followed with a shoulder injury in Week 10. By the end of November, the Raiders had placed seven players on injured reserve, including three starters. “Injuries are part of the NFL, but losing key players in such a short span is tough,” said Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler. “We built this roster to be resilient, but these losses have pushed our depth to the limit. It’s a true test of what we have in the locker room.”

Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders next delves into the performance of backup players in critical roles, with a focus on the offensive line and secondary. When Kolton Miller went down, the Raiders promoted Jermaine Eluemunor from the practice squad to start at left tackle—a position he hadn’t played regularly since 2023. Eluemunor struggled early, allowing 4 sacks and 8 quarterback hits in his first three starts, including a disastrous Week 10 game against the Chiefs where he was called for three holding penalties and gave up two sacks to Chris Jones. The secondary faced similar struggles: with Moehrig out, the Raiders turned to third-year safety Tyree Gillespie, who had played just 87 defensive snaps in his career. Gillespie looked overwhelmed in coverage, allowing a 45-yard touchdown catch to Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton in Week 11 and missing three tackles in a loss to the Texans. While some backups showed promise—like punt returner Tre Tucker, who averaged 9.1 yards per return after taking over for the injured Ameer Abdullah—others proved that the Raiders’ depth wasn’t ready for prime time. “We’ve seen flashes from some of our young guys, but consistency has been an issue,” said head coach Josh McDaniels. “When you’re playing against top-tier teams in the AFC West, you can’t afford mistakes from backup players. It’s a learning curve, but it’s one we need to navigate quickly.”

Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders also examines the coaching staff’s tactical adjustments to compensate for depth issues, particularly on offense. With the running game struggling and the offensive line allowing more pressure, McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi shifted to a pass-heavy attack, increasing quarterback Kirk Cousins’ dropbacks from 38 per game to 45 per game. They also simplified the playbook, reducing pre-snap motion and complex route combinations to limit mistakes from backup linemen and receivers. The changes had mixed results: Cousins threw for 300+ yards in three of four games but also threw 5 interceptions, as defenses focused on stopping the pass and dared the Raiders to run. On defense, coordinator Patrick Graham moved to a more conservative scheme, dropping an extra defender into coverage to hide the inexperience of backup safeties and cornerbacks. The Raiders’ pass defense improved slightly (allowing 240 yards per game instead of 262), but their run defense worsened, giving up 145 yards per game—up from 118 before the injuries. For the Las Vegas Raiders, these adjustments were necessary to stay competitive, but they also highlighted the team’s overreliance on starters. “We had to change how we play to put our backup players in positions to succeed,” Graham said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s the reality of where we are right now. We’re doing everything we can to win games while keeping our guys confident.”

Another layer of Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders is the impact of depth issues on team morale and playoff aspirations. After starting the season 5-2, the Raiders lost four of their next six games, dropping to 7-6 and falling out of the division lead. The losses were often decided by small margins—three of the four defeats were by one score—and many players and coaches acknowledged that depth issues were a key factor. In a postgame press conference after a Week 12 loss to the Chargers, Cousins noted that “we’re playing with a lot of guys who haven’t had many reps, and that shows in critical moments.” The team’s locker room remained united, with veterans like wide receiver Davante Adams and defensive end Maxx Crosby holding extra film sessions with young players to help them prepare. However, the frustration was evident: Adams publicly called for the team to address depth issues in the offseason, saying, “We have the talent to win, but we need more guys who can step up when starters go down. It’s something we can’t ignore.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, the stretch has been a wake-up call, emphasizing that talent at the top of the roster isn’t enough—depth is just as critical to sustained success in the NFL.

Depth Tested Amid Season Challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders closes with the long-term implications for the team’s roster construction and offseason planning. The depth crisis has exposed clear areas of need: offensive line depth, a reliable backup running back, and additional talent in the secondary. Ziegler has already acknowledged that the team will prioritize these positions in free agency and the draft, saying, “This season has taught us a lot about where we need to improve. We can’t go into next season with the same depth concerns. We need to build a roster that can handle injuries and still compete at a high level.” The Raiders also face tough decisions on pending free agents, including Jacobs and Eluemunor, as they look to balance retaining key starters with adding depth. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this season’s depth test has been painful, but it could prove valuable in the long run—providing clarity on what the team needs to do to become a legitimate playoff contender. “Challenges like this define a franchise,” McDaniels said. “We’re not going to let this set us back. We’re going to learn from it, get better, and come back stronger next season. This is just part of the process of building something special.” As the Raiders enter the final weeks of the season, they’ll continue to rely on backup players and tactical adjustments—but the lessons from this stretch will shape their future for years to come.