Tag: Michael Mayer

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at TE heading into the Draft

What Condition Raiders tight end Position is in heading into the Draft

With the draft weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Michael Mayer
Depth: Harrison Bryant, Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham, John Samuel Shenker

Mayer was expected to be a plug-and-play tight end. It didn’t quite happen that way. He didn’t have his second NFL catch until Week five. And he didn’t have his first NFL touchdown until Week 10. But you did see flashes of why he was drafted at 35 overall and the Raiders will give him another shot to live up to his potential as a starter. Bryant never lived up to the receiving number he put up as a senior at Florida Atlantic. But he’s been a passable NFL second tight end. The rest of the tight ends will compete for the final roster spot.

Condition: Stable

Notes: With Mayer in place and Bryant added to the team, the Raiders can focus on other positions of need in the draft.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at TE ahead of free agency

What Condition Raiders Position is in: Tight end

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Michael Mayer
Depth: Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham, John Samuel Shenker
Free Agents: Austin Hooper, Jesper Horsted

Mayer didn’t come bursting out the gates as some thought he might as the 35th overall pick in the draft. But around midseason, he started to show some of the skills that were expected of him, before being lost to injury late. The veteran Hooper was the team’s number two tight end. All others played sparingly or not at all.

Condition: Stable

Even if Hooper leaves in free agency, the team is set with Mayer as their starting tight end. He is no sure thing, but expect the Raiders to ride with him for now to see if he can develop. They would simply look to bolster the position with a mid level free agent or mid round draft selection, which shouldn’t be difficult.

Raiders TE Michael Mayer looking to build on rookie season

Raiders TE Michael Mayer looking to build on rookie season

The 2023 rookie class at tight end was one of the strongest we’ve ever seen. Sam LaPorta (Lions) made second-team All-Pro as a rookie. Dalton Kincaid (Bills) was one of the most dangerous route runners in the NFL in Year 1. Plus, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft helped change the entire trajectory of the Packers.

But one tight end who hasn’t gotten enough love is Michael Mayer. After catching just one pass in the first four games of the season, Mayer got hot in the second half of the year. He became a big-time weapon for Aidan O’Connell and showed just how bright his future is in Las Vegas.

In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they wrote about Mayer’s rookie season with the Raiders. Here is a snippet of what they had to say about the former Notre Dame star:

Tight end Michael Mayer finished in the 91st percentile in receiving grade. He saw 37 targets and racked up 304 yards and two touchdowns.

Mayer was the youngest tight end in the class (21), so it’s not a huge surprise to see others outperform him early on. The good news is that Mayer took a huge step in the second half of the season and all of his efficiency numbers are off the charts.

Most tight ends take a big leap in Year 2 and we shouldn’t expect anything different here. Mayer has the ability to be a star in the NFL and he should see a lot more work in 2024.

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Raiders, Broncos Week 18 final injury report: Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT

Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT on Raiders final injury report

The final final injury report of the Raiders 2023 season is out. And so too are RB Josh Jacobs and TE Michael Mayer.

Jacobs was lost to a quad injury against the Vikings in Week 14 and hasn’t played since. Mayer was lost the following week against the Chargers to a toe injury and also hasn’t played since.

The Broncos ruled out two players — TE Chris Manhertz (illness) and T Mike McGlinchey (Ribs).

NCAA Football Video Game Returns: Notre Dame Players We Missed Out On

Which Notre Dame player would have been the best to play with?

College football has its own cult-like following that makes it truly unique compared to any other American sport.  Even in that group there are sub-groups that are even that much more passionate.

One of those groups includes anyone who was ever a fan of the NCAA Football video game by EA Sports.

Personally, I can’t begin to estimate the total hours spent as a high school student in my parents house playing that game, the amount of hours I invested in it during college, or the hours I spent in my early-20’s with it.

However, it went away after the NCAA Football ’13 edition, meaning we’ve gone a full decade (2014-2023 seasons) now without the game.

So which players in that time did we especially miss playing with if we would have been playing as Notre Dame?

Here are the 11 we missed out in video game form the most.

Raiders, Colts final injury report: RB Josh Jacobs ‘game time decision’

Raiders, Colts final injury report: RB Josh Jacobs ‘game time decision’

It looks like Raiders could be without two of their offensive starters again this week as they head to Indianapolis to face the Colts. Tight end Michael Mayer has been ruled OUT while running back Josh Jacobs is officially Doubtful.

“That’s going to be a game time decision, just be honest with you,” head coach Antonio Pierce said of Jacobs’s status for Sunday. I mean, no need to rush it. If he can go at one o’clock on Sunday, I’m happy with that.”

Both players missed all practices this week.

Both Mayer and Jacobs missed Monday’s game in Kansas City and the Raiders, while they won the game, weren’t able to do much on offense.

Zamir White had a big day replacing Jacobs, but 58 of his 145 yards rushing came on the final drive thanks in large part to the Raiders’ defense putting the Raiders in a position to run out the clock late.

Starting center Andre James (ankle) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (knee) were both Questionable after being limited in practice all week.

Raiders, Chiefs final injury report: TE Michael Mayer OUT

Raiders TE Michael Mayer OUT, Josh Jacobs Questionable vs Chiefs

While the Raiders may get a few offensive starters back this week against the Chiefs, they will lose another. Tight end Michael Mayer is officially OUT with a toe injury.

They will for sure see the return of center Andre James who was removed from the injury report after missing the previous two weeks with an ankle injury.

Still Questionable are left tackle Kolton Miller (shoulder) and RB Josh Jacobs.

Jaacobs seemed on the path to returning this week and head coach Antonio Pierce seemed optimistic he would play earlier this week, but after a day back at practice, he was sidelined again, so once again, his status is uncertain.

Jack Jones landed on the injury report Saturday with a knee injury after not being on the injury report before that. He too is Questionable for the game.

The Chiefs will for sure be without three players. RB Jerrick McKinnon, WR Kadarius Toney, and T Donovan Smith are all OUT. WR Mecole Hardman began his 21-day window to return from injured reserve, but will not be activated this week.

Raiders, Chiefs Friday injury report: RB Josh Jacobs returns to practice

Raiders RB Josh Jacobs returns to practice

The third of the three players head coach Antonio Pierce was optimistic would return this week has returned. Thursday it was LT Kolton Miller and C Andre James. Friday it was RB Josh Jacobs.

Also returning for the Raiders was G Dylan Parham who missed Thursday’s practice with an illness. Meanwhile LB Robert Spillane was upgraded to full from his illness.

Still missing were DE Maxx Crosby (knee), TE Michael Mayer (toe), and ST DJ Turner (shoulder).

Returning for the Chiefs was linebacker Nick Bolton who missed Thursday’s practice with numerous injuries. LT Donovan Smith had returned from his neck injury but Friday was back on the sideline.

Raiders, Chiefs Thursday injury report: LT Kolton Miller returns to practice

Raiders LT Kolton Miller returns to practice

Wednesday Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce expressed optimism the Raiders would get back three offensive starters this week — RB Josh Jacobs, LT Kolton Miller, and C Andre James.

Two out of three aint bad.

Thursday saw Miller and James return to the practice field. Jacobs was still not practicing, though there are still two more practices for him to return.

The Chiefs also got their left tackle back. Donovan Smith practiced Thursday.

Missing for the Chiefs were LB Nick Bolton, LB Cam Jones, RB Jerrick McKinnon, WR Kadarious Toney.

Missing for the Raiders Thursday along with Jacobs were DE Maxx Crosby (knee), TE Michael Mayer (toe), G Dylan Parham (illness), and RS DJ Turner (shoulder).

We all know Crosby is going to play. He wouldn’t miss any games, let alone against his favorite QB Patrick Mahomes. We’ll wait and see with everyone else.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 15 rout of Chargers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 14 route of Chargers

What an insane game this was. Four days earlier, the Raiders were shut out 3-0 by the Vikings. Then they come out in this one and not only score a touchdown on their opening drive, not only score 21 points in the first quarter, not only go up 42-0 in the first half, not only scored 49 points before the Chargers scored for the first time, but scored a franchise record 63 points in a 63-21 trouncing of the Chargers.

That was one heck of a run-on sentence.

So, you might just see a heavy dose of Ballers this week. I wasn’t even sure there’d be a Buster, but in the end I found one. But just one.