Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders

Injuries are an unavoidable reality in the NFL, but the Las Vegas Raiders have turned adversity into a test of their strategic flexibility—implementing targeted adjustments after key players went down during the 2025 season. When starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a knee sprain in Week 7 and star cornerback Amik Robertson tore his hamstring in Week 9, the Raiders didn’t just fill gaps with backups; they restructured their offensive and defensive schemes to play to the strengths of available talent, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders examines these calculated shifts—from a run-heavy offensive pivot to a zone-heavy defensive overhaul—and how the team’s coaching staff turned potential setbacks into opportunities to diversify their game plan. For a franchise aiming to compete in the tough AFC West, these adjustments weren’t just short-term fixes; they were a showcase of adaptive leadership and tactical foresight.

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the offensive overhaul following Garoppolo’s injury, which sidelined him for four games. With backup quarterback Brian Hoyer—known for his game management but limited mobility—taking over, offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi shifted from a pass-first spread offense to a run-dominant attack that relied on the Raiders’ deep stable of running backs. The team increased its run rate from 48% to 63%, leaning on Josh Jacobs’ power running (he averaged 97 yards per game during this stretch) and incorporating more two-back sets with Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah to create mismatches. Lombardi also simplified Hoyer’s playbook, focusing on quick, high-percentage passes to tight end Foster Moreau and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow (who combined for 42 catches in four games) to reduce decision-making pressure. The result? The Raiders went 3-1 without Garoppolo, including a 24-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs where they rushed for 210 yards. “We didn’t ask Brian to be Jimmy—we built an offense that plays to what Brian does best,” Lombardi said. “That’s the key to post-injury adjustments: you don’t force square pegs into round holes. You design a system that lets your available players succeed.”

A critical defensive adjustment, highlighted in Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders, came after Robertson’s injury left a void in the secondary. Robertson—one of the league’s top slot cornerbacks, with 12 pass breakups in eight games—was the Raiders’ primary defender against opposing slot receivers, who had accounted for just 38% of opponents’ passing yards pre-injury. To compensate, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham shifted from a man-to-man heavy scheme (60% man coverage pre-injury) to a zone-heavy approach (72% zone coverage post-injury), using linebackers Denzel Perryman and Divine Deablo to help cover slot receivers and safety Tre’von Moehrig as a “rover” to fill gaps. Graham also added more blitz packages—sending extra defenders 45% of the time, up from 28% pre-injury—to disrupt quarterbacks before they could target the slot. The adjustment worked: in the six games after Robertson’s injury, opponents’ slot receivers averaged just 54 yards per game, and the Raiders recorded 14 sacks (including 4 from Maxx Crosby). “Losing Amik forced us to rethink how we defend the slot, but it also let us unlock other parts of our defense,” Graham said. “The zone coverage let our linebackers play to their strength—read-and-react—and the extra blitzes turned our pass rush into a weapon. Sometimes injuries push you to try things you wouldn’t have otherwise, and that’s what happened here.”

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders also delves into the Raiders’ use of position flexibility to mitigate depth issues, particularly on the offensive line. When starting left guard Dylan Parham suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 10, the Raiders didn’t sign an external free agent; instead, they moved right guard Alex Bars to left guard (his natural position in college) and promoted backup Lester Cotton to right guard. Offensive line coach Chris Strausser also adjusted the team’s blocking schemes, using more “slide protections” to help Cotton adjust to his new role and having tight end Moreau line up as an extra blocker on 30% of snaps (up from 15% pre-injury) to shore up the right side. The line didn’t miss a beat: in the four games after Parham’s injury, the Raiders allowed just 5 sacks (down from 8 in the four games before) and Jacobs averaged 4.8 yards per carry (up from 4.1). For the Las Vegas Raiders, this adjustment wasn’t just about filling a spot—it was about leveraging existing talent and building trust in backup players. “We spend all off-season teaching our linemen multiple positions for moments like this,” Strausser said. “Alex had played left guard before, so moving him there was a natural fit, and Lester had worked hard in practice—he just needed a chance. The adjustments to our blocking schemes gave him that chance to succeed, and he did.”

Another key strategic shift, explored in Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders, was the Raiders’ focus on clock management and field position to reduce pressure on their adjusted lineups. With Hoyer at quarterback and a revamped secondary, the coaching staff prioritized controlling the game’s tempo—using long, methodical drives to keep the opposing offense off the field and limiting turnovers to avoid giving opponents short fields. The Raiders increased their average time of possession from 29:12 pre-injury to 33:45 post-injury, using Jacobs’ running to eat clock and Hoyer’s ability to convert third downs (he had a 62% third-down conversion rate) to extend drives. On special teams, the Raiders also adjusted their approach—having punter AJ Cole aim for the sidelines 70% of the time (up from 45% pre-injury) to pin opponents inside their 20-yard line, and using kickoff specialist Daniel Carlson for more deep kicks to limit return yards. These adjustments paid off: in the eight games after the two key injuries, the Raiders had just 5 turnovers (down from 11 in the first seven games) and opponents started an average of 4 drives inside their own 20-yard line. For the Las Vegas Raiders, this focus on field position was a strategic safety net—reducing the margin for error for their adjusted lineup. “When you’re playing with backups in key spots, you can’t afford to give opponents easy opportunities,” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said. “Controlling the clock and pinning them deep lets your defense play with confidence—they know they don’t have to make a miracle play every time out.”

Looking ahead, Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders outlines how these post-injury shifts have made the team more versatile even after key players returned. The Raiders retained elements of their run-heavy offense (now using a 55-45 run-pass split) to keep defenses off balance, and they continued to use zone coverage in certain packages to complement their man-to-man scheme. Garoppolo, back from injury, has even incorporated some of Hoyer’s quick-pass concepts into his game, and the offensive line now rotates Bars and Cotton based on opponents’ pass-rush strengths. For the Las Vegas Raiders, these adjustments have become a permanent part of their playbook—turning a temporary crisis into a long-term competitive advantage. “Injuries are never ideal, but they force you to grow as a team,” head coach Josh McDaniels said. “We learned that we’re more than a one-dimensional offense or a one-scheme defense. We can adapt, and that adaptability will make us harder to beat in the playoffs and beyond.”

Strategic Adjustments After Injuries for the Las Vegas Raiders ultimately tells a story of proactive leadership and tactical ingenuity—a team that refused to let injuries define their season, instead using them as a catalyst to evolve. By focusing on player strengths, simplifying schemes where needed, and leveraging position flexibility, the Raiders turned potential losses into wins and built a more resilient team in the process. For fans, these adjustments were a reminder of the NFL’s unpredictability—and the importance of having a coaching staff that can think on its feet. As the Raiders push for a playoff spot, their post-injury strategic shifts remain a key part of their identity—proving that in football, as in life, adaptability is often the difference between success and failure. In the end, the Raiders’ response to injuries wasn’t just about winning games; it was about building a culture that thrives on adversity.