It could be a short absence from the lineup for Josh Jacobs, who missed last Sunday’s game against the Titans with a shoulder injury he suffered in week seven. The rookie running back had an MRI Tuesday and the results were fairly good news, accroding to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

#Raiders RB Josh Jacobs underwent an MRI on his ailing shoulder after not playing on Sunday. But the scans checked out very positively, sources say, and Jacobs is expected to return to the field this week. Barring a setback, should be just a one-week absence.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2019

It sounds like Jacobs and the team expect him to return this week when the team faces off against the Jaguars in their final game in Oakland.

Jacobs revealed last week that his shoulder was broken and yet he continued to play on it for seven games after that.

Jon Gruden said after the game against the Titans Sunday that Jacobs was in tears because he wanted to play but was unable to go.

“Yeah he did. He sure did,” Gruden said of Jacobs’s wanting to play. “He’s the real deal is what it says. He’s all you could ask for. He sat in my coach’s office. He wanted to play, and he got really emotional about not playing. He doesn’t want to let his teammates down. I don’t know where he’s going to be this week, but if he’s ready to go and he’s cleared to play, he’ll play. He’s a great back and a great centerpiece for our team moving forward.” 

Gruden added that he had no intention of shutting down Jacobs for the final three games simply because the team’s playoff chances are slim.

“We’re never going to put a guy out there that can’t play, but we’re going into the last game in the history of the Oakland Raiders and it’s an emotional time. We’re going to try to win the game. We’re not eliminated from the playoffs and we’re going to try to win every single time we strap it on.”

[vertical-gallery id=59060]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Just a few weeks ago, the Raiders were in prime position to clinch a playoff berth as they just won their sixth game, improving to 6-4. But the team has dropped three straight games, and their current playoff odds sit at less than one percent, according to the New York Times.

Due to this rough three-game stretch, the Raiders have fallen down power ranking lists. In Doug Farrar’s latest team rankings, the Oakland has dropped all the way down from No. 9 to No. 15 over the last month of the season. Take a look at Farrar’s thoughts from Sunday’s loss to Tennesee:

Oakland managed three touchdowns on Sunday against the Titans, but it wasn’t nearly enough — and this time, the problem was Paul Guenther’s defense. Ryan Tannehill threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, and Derrick Henry ran for 103 yards and two scores of his own, and Oakland ceded the division to the Chiefs with a 42-21 loss.

While it has been a rough few games for the Raiders, they have a chance to turn things around this week against the slumping Jacksonville Jaguars.

The playoffs might not be in reach for the Raiders any more, they still have a chance to have a winning season for the first time since 2016. And considering the expectations many had about this team heading into the season, that would still be quite an accomplishment.

[vertical-gallery id=59060]

[lawrence-newsletter]

The Oakland Raiders and all other NFL clubs around the league have now be informed of the potential salary cap increase for the 2020 season.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the cap could land anywhere from $196.8 million to $201.2 million. That would be an increase of at least $8 million over the previous number for this season.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Raiders’ current total liabilities for next season are roughly $147 million, giving the team around $73 million in cap space.

Luckily for Oakland, the team doesn’t have a ton of free agents that need to be signed this offseason. However, players such as Karl Joseph, Daryl Worley, and Richie Incognito could be players the team would like to retain this offseason.

With the Raiders scheduled to have so much cap space entering the 2020 offseason, look for the team to be very aggressive in free agency once again. Expect Oakland to target several defenders, specifically on the defensive line and at linebacker.

[vertical-gallery id=59060]

[lawrence-newsletter]

The Raiders are stacking up the ugly blowout losses now. This one was at least competitive for the first half, albeit a shootout. By the third quarter, the shootout was over and the shooting themselves in the feet was in full effect. And a couple minutes into the fourth quarter, the rout was on.

Things looked bleak initially, with the Titans driving inside the Raiders 20-yard-line on their opening drive. But the tide turned back quickly with a tipped ball the was hauled in by Maurice Hurst and returned 55 yards to flip the field. The Raiders capitalized on it to get on the board first and the two teams swapped scores most of the first half after that, with just one punt.

It didn’t last, but, hey, the Raiders did score 21 points this time. They didn’t reach double digits in their previous two blowout losses. Baby steps.

Ballers: C Rodney Hudson, LG Richie Incognito, LT Kolton Miller

The center through the left side of the Raiders’ offensive line was putting in some good work in this game. After the turnover that gave the Raiders a short field, Hudson and Incognito laid key blocks to spring DeAndre Washington to go 14 yards for the touchdown.

Things shifted back to the Titans by the start of the second quarter after two straight scores to take a 14-7 lead. The Raiders needed an answer and they got it with a broken coverage leading to a wide-open 49-yards touchdown from Rico Gafford.

But for that to happen, first the Raiders had to convert on third and two. Thanks to big blocks from Incognito and Miller, Jalen Richard broke off a 10-yard run. Hudson blocked for a Richard 4-yard run on the next play. Two plays later, the Gafford touchdown tied it up at 14-14.

Obviously, the Raiders were unable to mount any long drives in the third, but whenever either Richard or Washington would get a chunk run, it was Hudson who was leading the way. And Miller kept the Titans pass rush out of the backfield.

[lawrence-newsletter]

With Josh Jacobs dealing with a shoulder injury, the Oakland Raiders need some help at running back for the next few weeks. That is why they have signed veteran running back Rod Smith, who last played with the Tennesee Titans.

Smith has appeared in 52 career games, totaling 636 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. He also has experience as a kick returner, as well as playing on nearly every special team’s unit while he was in Dallas and Seattle.

We have signed RB Rod Smith to the active roster.

More: https://t.co/Lpf4w2ySnY pic.twitter.com/QJligFP1tP

— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) December 10, 2019

Smith has a ton of versatility as he has started games at both running back and fullback in the NFL. And given his special teams’ experience with Rich Bisaccia, it shouldn’t be hard for him to find playing time right away. Smith is a fantastic receiver and can help him pass-protection, as well.

If Jacobs is out again this week, look for Smith to play behind Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington as a do-it-all back. The team also announced that they have waived veterans D.J. Swearinger, Terrell McClain and Preston Brown.

[vertical-gallery id=59060]

[lawrence-newsletter]

The Oakland Raiders have just three games remaining in the 2019 season. And while they still have an outside shot at making the playoffs, the team will need to use the final three games of the season to evaluate talent before they head into the 2020 offseason.

With that in mind, here are three players who should get a more extended look in the final three games of the season:

1. DT Maurice Hurst

After a strong rookie season, Maurice Hurst has continued to produce at defensive tackle for the Raiders. In Week 14, he recorded his first career interception and nearly returned it for a score against Tennesee.

But despite recording solid statistics once again, Hurst just hasn’t been a regular part of the Raiders’ defensive line rotation. He is still playing less than 50 percent of the defensive snaps and has been surpassed in playing time by P.J. Hall and Johnathan Hankins. And considering how effective he has been at rushing the passer, it’s puzzling why he hasn’t been on the field more.

Considering Hankins is a proven veteran, it would be wise for Oakland to allow both Hurst and Hall to play extended snaps over the next three weeks before entering the offseason. If nothing else, it will help give the team more tape to study on these two players as they begin to rank their offseason needs.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Fool me one, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, blow it up. Ok, that last one I made up. But that’s where the Raiders are right now. They’re coming off their third straight blowout loss with each game allowing more points than the last. It’s enough to make you want to throw up. Especially if you’re Jon Gruden.

“I don’t know, it’s sickening,” said Gruden. “It’s tough, but it’s a necessary evil. Right now, we’ve got to play better, and we’re going to play better, and there will be changes. There will be changes. What happened yesterday will not happen again. I can’t allow it to happen.” 

There were a lot of drives by the Titans that would make you want to toss your cookies if you’re on the Raiders’ sideline. Three of the Titans’ touchdown drives began inside their 20-yard-line — one at their 16, one at their own 11, and the third time in the second quarter that had them line up at their own 9-yard-line and in one play was a 91-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to AJ Brown. Oof.

“It’s like getting punched in the stomach,” Gruden said. “It knocks some wind out of you. Anytime a team takes the ball the length of the field that many times, it’s hard to do in this league. We’ve done a pretty good [job] this year offensively of sustaining some long 80-yard drives, but sometimes you got to win the game of field position, you’ve got to force a three-and-out. We weren’t able to do that yesterday from the jump and very, very concerned about it and we’re going to make some changes. We’re going to get it right.”

Gruden doesn’t just say he’s going to make changes to appease people. He means it when he says it. The day after the team allowed Aaron Rodgers to have a perfect passer rating while throwing for five touchdowns, Gareon Conley was traded to the Texans. Last week, after the Raiders receiving corps put up a pitiful showing in KC last week including Trevor Davis fumbling a kick return and getting stopped on a 4th down play, Davis was cut and Rico Gafford got his first start.

Conley being traded was doable because the team had Trayvon Mullen waiting in the wings and enough other corners to step up the depth chart. Cornerback was the one position on the team that had that kind of depth. It’s harder to see what other positions could see any kind of major changes that might actually improve their situation.

That leads to the question of coaching. Which leads to Paul Guenther. Could Gruden be considering letting Guenther go? Giving up 552 yards of offense should naturally put any defensive coordinator under fire. And those touchdown drives over 80 yards? Well, the Raiders have 16 of them this season, tied for the most in the NFL.

If the previous changes were any indication, we may not have to wait long to find out what Gruden has in mind. With just three games left and the playoffs a long shot, there’s no reason to draw it out. Purge and press on.

[vertical-gallery id=59060]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Another game another blow out loss for the Oakland Raiders as they fall to the Tennessee Titans 42-21. The Raiders have lost their last three games 116-33, and their playoff dreams have shattered after a promising start to the season.

The defense had its worst performance of the season, giving up 552 yards of offense and allowing the Titans to average 9.3 yards per play. They had no answer for the Titans offense all game with receivers and tight ends running wide open from the play-action fakes.

Tannehill had a career day passing the football with 391 yards passing and a monster yard per attempt of 14.5, adding to Derrick Henry rushing for 108 yards. The Raiders defense who have played better at home just didn’t show up.

The offense played exceptional in the first half keeping pace with the Titans and matching score for score. Everything changed in the second half. The offense didn’t score once on any of their possessions in the third or fourth quarter.

The Raiders offense truly missed Josh Jacobs and Hunter Renfrow as they struggled to move the football efficiently when they needed to have massive plays. The Raiders genuinely need to add pieces to this offense in the offseason to be successful.

Who were the Winners and Losers for the Raiders Week 14? Let’s look at The Who stood out and who dropped a huge dud in the Week 14 matchup.

[lawrence-newsletter]