The Las Vegas Raiders had another lifeless offensive performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 14. Outside of the opening drive, the team couldn’t move the ball with Geno Smith under center.
The veteran quarterback has been hit a lot this season, and it’s starting to add up. He got banged up with a hand injury against the Broncos, but was able to get back on the field. However, he eventually suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out for the rest of the game.
Kennty Pickett came in and led the Raiders on an impressive touchdown drive. Considering the team is out of the playoff race and has little to play for the rest of the season, many would like to see them make a change at quarterback.
For now, the Raiders need to figure out exactly what’s wrong with Smith. He’s been tough all season, but it doesn’t make much sense for him to play through injury when the Raiders are out of the playoffs. Head coach Pete Carroll doesn’t know exactly how serious the injury is, but he did have an update in his postgame press conference.
“I didn’t see the play happen, but he got banged on his shoulder … it’s just kind of jammed up right now,” Carroll said after the game. “The early indication is that it … didn’t show any damage. His shoulder is really locked up, so we’ll see what that means.”
Kyu Blue Kelly Dealing With Serious Injury
Smith wasn’t the only concerning injury the Raiders dealt with against the Broncos. Early in the game, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly had to be carted off the field after hurting his knee.
The whole team surrounded him as trainers looked at him, which would indicate that it was a very serious injury. Carroll wasn’t willing to divulge too much information about the specifics of his injury, but he did note that it was serious.
Kelly has started eight games for the Raiders this season, and he’s been their best defensive back at turning over the ball. It appears like a long shot that he’ll be able to get back on the field this season, but he may have shown enough to earn an opportunity next season. Rookie Darien Porter played well in relief of Kelly and should be starting the rest of the way.
Raiders Now No. 2 in NFL Draft Order
The biggest silver lining for the Raiders in Week 14 is that they’ve moved up to No. 2 in the NFL Draft order, per Tankathon. The Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints both won, which moved the Raiders up.
The only team ahead of Las Vegas is the New York Giants, which is a team they play in Week 17. That may end up being the battle for the No. 1 pick. The Raiders clearly have a lot of needs, so getting the No. 1 pick gives them a lot of options.
They could go after a franchise quarterback or take the best defensive player in the draft. They could also trade back and get a treasure trove of draft picks.
Raiders Announce Geno Smith News After Broncos Loss