Raiders’ Injury Report Could Mean Major Reinforcements Before Eagles Clash

A Glimmer of Hope in a Dismal Season

The Las Vegas Raiders, mired in a 2-11 quagmire that has them firmly entrenched in the AFC West basement, are staring down the barrel of yet another must-win—or at least must-compete—game. But with four contests left in the 2025 regular season, the focus for many Silver and Black faithful isn’t on salvaging a playoff miracle. It’s on pride, development, and perhaps most crucially, getting a peek at what a healthier roster might look like in 2026. Enter the Philadelphia Eagles, a 8-5 juggernaut clinging to the NFC East lead despite a recent three-game skid. The December 14 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly promises frigid temperatures—potentially dipping into the low 20s with snow flurries in the forecast—and a lopsided betting line favoring the home team by 11.5 points.

Yet, amid the Raiders’ offensive woes (averaging a league-worst 15.1 points per game) and defensive inconsistencies (allowing 25.5 points per contest), Wednesday’s Week 15 injury report from Intermountain Health Performance Center offered a rare ray of optimism. For the first time in weeks, several key contributors practiced, albeit limitedly, signaling potential reinforcements that could shore up both lines of scrimmage. Offensive tackle Kolton Miller, tight end Michael Mayer, and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr.—all sidelined by nagging injuries—took the field in some capacity. Their returns, even if partial, could transform a porous offensive line and stagnant passing attack into something resembling a functional unit.

This isn’t just about one game; it’s a microcosm of a season defined by the injury bug. The Raiders have placed 12 players on injured reserve since September, costing them an estimated 1,200 man-games—among the highest in the NFL. Head coach Pete Carroll, in his first year steering the Silver and Black after a controversial hire from Seattle, has preached resilience. “We’ve been battered, but football’s a war of attrition,” Carroll said post-practice Thursday. “Seeing these guys back? It’s fuel. We build from here.” As the Raiders travel east, these reinforcements could not only make the clash with Philly competitive but also provide a blueprint for offseason moves. In a league where health is wealth, Las Vegas might finally glimpse its potential.

The Raiders’ Injury Toll: A Season in the Trenches

To appreciate the significance of these returns, one must first reckon with the carnage. The 2025 Raiders entered training camp with sky-high expectations, bolstered by veteran quarterback Geno Smith (acquired in a March blockbuster from Seattle) and a revamped defensive front anchored by Maxx Crosby’s relentless edge presence. But optimism evaporated by Week 4, when a rash of injuries exposed the roster’s thin margins.

Start with the offensive line, the engine room of any ground-and-pound attack. Left tackle Kolton Miller, a 2022 Pro Bowler and the anchor protecting Smith’s blind side, went down in Week 4 against the Bears with a high-ankle sprain that landed him on IR. His absence correlated with a plummet in rushing efficiency: the Raiders, who boasted a top-10 ground game through three weeks (4.8 yards per carry), have since managed a woeful 3.1 YPC, ranking 30th league-wide. Backup Thayer Munford Jr. stepped in admirably, but the line’s pass protection evaporated—Smith has been sacked 42 times, third-most in the NFL, leading to his own shoulder tweak in Week 14’s 24-17 loss to Denver.

Tight end Michael Mayer, the 2023 second-round pick out of Notre Dame, has been a revelation when healthy—a seamless blocker and red-zone mismatch with 45 catches for 512 yards and five scores through 10 games. But an ankle sprain in Week 13 sidelined him for the Broncos tilt, forcing reliance on journeyman Brock Wright, who managed just three receptions in his stead. Mayer’s absence amplified the Raiders’ third-down woes (38.2% conversion rate, 28th in NFL), as his after-the-catch elusiveness has been sorely missed.

Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., a speedy third-rounder from West Virginia, adds vertical stretch. His concussion protocol stint after a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 13 limited him to one game missed, but in a receiving corps already thin without Davante Adams (traded midseason to the Jets), every snap counts. Thornton’s 28 catches for 412 yards and three touchdowns this year highlight his big-play potential—averaging 14.7 yards per grab—but his absence forced Jakobi Meyers into a workhorse role, wearing down the slot receiver.

Defensively, the hits keep coming. Edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the heart of this unit with 9.0 sacks and 25 tackles for loss, aggravated a knee issue in Denver but gutted out 100% snaps and a sack on Bo Nix. Yet his DNP on Wednesday raises alarms; without Crosby, the Raiders’ pass rush drops from top-10 (2.3 sacks per game) to middling (1.4). Linebacker Jamal Adams, repurposed from safety after a midseason trade, brings sideline-to-sideline speed but nursed a knee bruise that kept him out of practice. Safety Jeremy Chinn’s back spasms add to the secondary’s fragility, already depleted by rookie CB Kyu Blu Kelly’s season-ending patellar tendon rupture.

And then there’s Geno Smith. The 34-year-old gunslinger, signed to a three-year, $105 million deal, has thrown for 3,212 yards and 18 touchdowns but endured 12 interceptions amid protection breakdowns. His shoulder—suffered diving for a first down late against Denver—has him doubtful, thrusting backup Kenny Pickett into the spotlight. Pickett, acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, is 2-3 as a starter this year with a 58.4% completion rate and five picks in 180 attempts. “Geno’s our leader,” Carroll noted. “But Kenny’s got poise. This is his audition.”

These injuries haven’t just depleted talent; they’ve warped schemes. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s run-heavy philosophy (42% run rate) has been neutered without Miller’s mauler in the trenches, leading to a paltry 75.4 rushing yards per game over the last three outings. Defensively, DC Patrick Graham’s blitz packages—third in blitz rate at 28%—lose teeth without Adams’ coverage versatility. The result? A 1-7 stretch since Week 6, with losses averaging 12.3 points.

Breaking Down the Wednesday Report: Who’s Back and Who’s Out?

Wednesday’s practice under the Allegiant Stadium lights was a tale of two rosters. For the Raiders, it was a step toward normalcy; for the Eagles, a mirror of their own trench warfare.

Raiders’ Positives: The Reinforcements

• Kolton Miller (OT, Ankle – Limited): The crown jewel. Miller’s 21-day activation window from IR opened this week, and his limited reps were a sight for sore eyes. At 6’8″, 325 pounds, he’s a road-grader who allowed just two sacks in 2024. His return could stabilize the left side, giving Pickett (or Smith, if cleared) cleaner pockets. “Kolton’s our rock,” said RG Dylan Parham, who shifted to LT in Miller’s absence. “Feels like we got our spine back.” If Miller plays, expect a resurgence in the run game—Zamir White, held to 3.9 YPC lately, could feast on Philly’s middling front seven (allowing 4.2 YPC).
• Michael Mayer (TE, Ankle – Limited): The Notre Dame product looked sharp in route drills, catching passes from both Pickett and Aidan O’Connell (emergency third QB). Mayer’s blocking grade (78.2 PFF run-block) has been elite, but his receiving (Pro Football Focus grade of 82.4) makes him a cheat code in 12 personnel sets. Paired with Brock Bowers (another TE, but more receiving-focused), a healthy Mayer could create mismatches against Eagles LBs like Zack Baun, who struggles in coverage (78.9 passer rating allowed).
• Dont’e Thornton Jr. (WR, Concussion – Limited): Cleared the protocol with flying colors, Thornton’s speed (4.42 40-yard dash) adds a deep threat absent since Tre Tucker’s hamstring pull in Week 10. His limited work focused on high-point drills, signaling readiness for slant-and-go routes that could exploit Philly’s secondary, ranked 22nd in deep coverage (62.3% completion rate allowed on 20+ yards).
• Alex Bachman (WR, Thumb – Limited): Depth piece, but his sure hands (8 drops on 92 targets career-low) provide insurance. Full participant Jordan Meredith (C, Ankle) rounds out the O-line optimism.

Raiders’ Concerns: The Holdouts

• Geno Smith (QB, Shoulder – DNP): Ruled out Friday, per Carroll. Pickett starts, with his mobility (4.8 yards per rush) a wrinkle against Vic Fangio’s aggressive fronts.
• Maxx Crosby (DE, Knee – DNP): The All-Pro’s status is 50/50; an MRI Thursday showed no tears, but swelling lingers. Without him, Malcolm Koonce (7.5 sacks) shoulders the load.
• Jamal Adams (LB, Knee – DNP) and Jeremy Chinn (S, Back – DNP): Both missed; Divine Deablo starts at LB, but the secondary’s bend-but-don’t-break ethos (allowing 7.1 yards per pass) gets tested by Jalen Hurts’ legs.

Eagles side: Philly’s report mirrors Vegas’—trench-heavy. RT Lane Johnson (groin) and DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) were DNPs, potentially weakening their protection against Crosby (if he plays). LG Landon Dickerson (elbow) limited, but QB Jalen Hurts (no injury) and WR A.J. Brown (full) bode well for Philly’s explosiveness.

Impact on the Eagles Clash: Scheme Shifts and Matchups

A healthier Raiders squad doesn’t make them favorites—Philly’s 76.1% win probability per ESPN Analytics holds firm—but it levels the playing field. Here’s how these returns ripple:

Offense: From Anemic to Assertive

With Miller anchoring LT, Getsy can dust off his Shanahan-tree gap schemes. White and Sincere McCormick (backup RB, 4.2 YPC) could target Philly’s run defense (12th in yards allowed, but vulnerable inside without Carter). Mayer’s inline blocking opens bootlegs for Pickett, who thrives on RPOs (65% completion). Thornton stretches the top of the defense, pulling CB Darius Slay (aging at 34, PFF coverage grade down to 68.4) deep and freeing Meyers underneath. Against a Birds secondary allowing 225.6 pass yards per game (18th), this could push Vegas over 300 total yards for the first time in six weeks.

Defense: Pressure Points

Crosby’s potential DNP hurts, but Adams’ return (if Thursday’s full) bolsters the box against Hurts’ scrambles (6.8 yards per rush, top-5 QB). Chinn’s versatility in the slot could neutralize DeVonta Smith on crossing routes. Graham’s simulated pressures (using safeties like Isaiah Pola-Mao) rise to 32% with these pieces, targeting Philly’s O-line woes—sacked 38 times, second-most. If Crosby sits, expect stunts with Koonce and Christian Wilkins (fully healthy after 2024 foot surgery).

Key matchup: Raiders’ revamped O-line vs. Eagles’ pass rush. Haason Reddick (10 sacks) feasts on makeshift LTs; Miller neutralizes that. Weather factor: Snow could favor Vegas’ run emphasis, as Philly’s precision passing dips in elements (58% completion in rain/snow).

X buzz underscores the hype: Raiders Wire noted “key players return with starters miss,” while PhillyVoice warned of Pickett’s poise. Fantasy implications? Mayer (TE7 streaming gem) and Thornton (WR4 upside) spike.

Beyond Philly—A Harbinger for Hope

As the Raiders board their charter to Philadelphia, this injury report isn’t a panacea for a 2-11 campaign marred by quarterback carousel (Smith, Pickett, O’Connell) and defensive lapses (32nd in red-zone D). But it’s a statement: Depth exists, resilience endures. Miller’s return evokes his 2022 dominance (zero sacks allowed in eight games); Mayer and Thornton inject youth into a veteran-laden WR room. Even if losses mount—preserving a top-3 draft pick for QB Caleb Williams or Shedeur Sanders—these glimpses validate GM Tom Telesco’s offseason blueprint.

Carroll, ever the optimist, summed it: “Injuries test you. Returns define you.” Against an Eagles team desperate to halt their skid, Las Vegas might not steal a win (23.7% chance), but a competitive showing—with 17+ points scored and under 30 allowed—validates the rebuild. Raider Nation, weary from defeat, deserves this. In the City of Brotherly Love, the Silver and Black could rediscover swagger—one limited practice at a time.