Raiders Need Depth to Show Up Vs. Lions

The Las Vegas Raiders will take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in a Monday Night Football game tonight.

The Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season on both sides of the ball. Their top players have shown up in big ways this season, but their depth has also been impressive.

Players like wide receiver Josh Reynolds and edge rusher John Cominsky have been productive for the Lions, taking pressure off of their top players so they don’t have to over-rely on players like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

The Raiders need their depth pieces to step up and help out their stars as well. They have gotten great production out of players like wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, as well as defensive end Maxx Crosby, but they need other players who play significant snaps to produce.

The Raiders have not gotten the production out of defensive end Malcolm Koonce that they expected this season. Koonce has posted only 11 total tackles, two tackles for losses and no sacks. The third-year man has the physical tools and the talent to be an impactful edge rusher, but it has not shown up on the field yet.

Crosby has been as excellent as he usually is, but he needs help. That can come in the form of Koonce, who has the talent to make that happen.

The Raiders would also like to see more from rookie edge rusher Tyree Wilson, who also has elite physical tools, but has struggled mightily in his debut season. The seventh overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has only one sack.

In the running game, running back Josh Jacobs has gotten off to a slow start this season after missing the offseason due to contract complications. There has not been a reliable option behind him, either.

Zamir White was expected to see an increase in production this season, but he has only 12 carries for 43 yards and six receptions for 38 yards. The Raiders need more out of the second-year back to get their running game going.

The Raiders will need some of these depth pieces to step up against the Lions tonight and going forward if they want to get back to their winning ways.

The Silver and Black will stay on the road to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night, Oct. 30, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.

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