With the bye week behind them, the Las Vegas Raiders will be looking to turn their season around and try to make a run at the postseason. And the team will reportedly be bringing in a familiar face to head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith in veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
According to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, the Raiders are expected to sign Lockett for the rest of the season after he was released last week by the Tennessee Titans:
Former Seahawks and Titans wide receiver Tyler Lockett is expected to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting with coach Pete Carroll, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden […] Lockett, 33, is joining the Raiders after he was released from the Titans last week, after he caught 10 passes for 70 yards in seven games and 181 offensive snaps. He signed a one-year deal with Tennessee in April.
The Raiders certainly hope Lockett can provide a boost to this passing offense, which has struggled mightily, though at least some of that can be attributed to tight end Brock Bowers’s health issues. Top receiver Jakobi Meyers has also struggled with some injuries, and there have also been some rumors that the team could look to trade him ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline.
Lockett didn’t get much of a chance in Tennessee, but perhaps being reunited with Carroll will allow him to flourish once again. When the two were together in Seattle, Lockett bloomed into one of the best receivers in franchise history, ranking second all-time in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. The receiver also spent plenty of time with Smith in Seattle, so their connection will hopefully pick right back up with the Raiders.
The Raiders offense as a whole has struggled, ranking 31st in points and 30th in yards, and near the bottom of the league in passing yards and touchdowns, as Smith has struggled with interceptions. But hopefully, a return to health from their top playmakers and a boost from Lockett can begin turning that tide.
Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on the hot seat?
If the Raiders continue to struggle to put points on the board, the franchise could look to make some changes, and NFL analyst Chris Simms believes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly could be on the hot seat and possibly be the first to go.
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