Geno

Smith

The quad bruise was clearly affecting Smith’s ability to maneuver against the Denver pass rush, but the good news for the veteran quarterback is that there doesn’t appear to be any structural damage. If Smith was unable to go next week it would be Kenny Pickett under center, but it seems more than likely that the 34-year-old will be ready to roll against Dallas in Week 11 in a Monday Night Football showdown.

Smith briefly left the game with the quad issue in the early portion of the fourth, and while he returned a few plays later, it was clearly bothering him. The 35-year-old could come back for the final possession(s), but Kenny Pickett is set to handle QB duties if the Raiders get the ball back.

Meyers finally finds his way out of Vegas four months after requesting a trade to escape Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme. Meyers never gelled with Geno Smith and hardly saw an increase in usage during Brock Bowers’ extended injury absence. Meyers managed 32 catches for 352 yards and zero touchdowns over seven games with the Raiders this season. Jacksonville acquiring Meyers at the trade deadline could mean the team is anticipating a worst-case scenario for Brian Thomas, who suffered a serious ankle injury in Week 9 against the Raiders. The team is already without Travis Hunter, who last week was placed on IR with a knee injury. Meyers’ fantasy prospects likely get a boost in Jacksonville if Thomas is sidelined for a while. Meanwhile, Tre Tucker becomes the de facto WR1 in Vegas, though Bowers should continue dominating targets as he did in Week 9. The Raiders could see what they have in Jack Bech as well.

Brock Bowers was finally back from his early-season ankle injury and Geno peppered his game-breaking tight end with 14 targets, connecting with Bowers for three scores on the day. Geno was sacked twice and had plenty of time to operate in a clean pocket against a Jaguars pass rush that ranks as one of the league’s worst. Coming into Week 9, Smith had eclipsed the 200-yard mark just once over his past four games, struggling with accuracy in the short and intermediate areas. Bowers’ return could make Smith usable in superflex formats going forward. He’ll face the Broncos in Week 10.

O’Connell has been sidelined for nearly two months with a wrist injury. He could be back as the Raiders’ backup QB for Week 9 against the Jaguars, or the team could wait until Week 10 or 11 to make him active. O’Connell could end up seeing playing time in 2025 unless Geno Smith can turn it around in the next few weeks. Smith has been among the least efficient quarterbacks in football this season.

Perhaps the most surprising number of many is the fact that Smith took only one sack on the afternoon. The Chiefs, who totaled only eight pressures on the day per the early PFF data, opted to stay back and let Smith find open receivers, a seemingly impossible task. With Brock Bowers (knee) and Jakobi Meyers (knee/toe) both inactive, Smith and the Raiders were unable to get anything going through the air. At one point, Smith went nearly two full quarters without completing a pass before a four-yard completion to Tre Tucker late in the third quarter. Smith and the Raiders are hurting both literally and physically, but now enter a Week 8 bye. Those who watched this game may be wondering: How will we tell the difference? The hope is that both Meyers and Bowers will be back for Week 9’s game against the Jaguars, which should provide some help to an offense that has totaled just 26 points in its last three games combined.

Smith’s struggles continued against a weak Tennessee defense. He was sacked twice and pressured frequently behind a Vegas offensive line that has collapsed in recent weeks. The Raiders were once again run heavy in Week 6, throwing the ball 23 times and running it 32 times. Geno has uncharacteristically struggled with accuracy this season. He ranks 23rd out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in completion rate over expected this season. Smith’s prospects would be boosted if Brock Bowers (knee) is able to return in Week 7 against the Chiefs. For now Geno is not playable in any fantasy format.

Pete Carroll’s “I am not benching Geno Smith” shirt is raising a lot of questions already answered by the shirt. Geno has nine interceptions and 16 sacks this year. He leads the league in picks and isn’t far off in sacks. The Raiders, in turn, are riding a four-game losing streak. Smith will get benched if this level of play continues, but turning to Kenny Pickett isn’t going to turn the Raiders’ season around. Carroll will give Smith every opportunity to right the ship before pulling the plug in favor of Pickett.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler classified the Raiders’ general feeling toward Smith as being “mildly concerned” at the moment, “but there’s no sentiment that Smith is a broken quarterback.” Fowler notes that Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and Smith “have enough sweat equity together from their Seattle days that Carroll could stick with him a little longer as a result.” Fowler’s colleague, Dan Graziano, adds that “for now, it sounds like the Raiders will ride it out with Smith,” though the turnovers must decrease soon. Smith faces the Titans and Chiefs before Las Vegas goes on bye in Week 8. If Smith continues to rack up interceptions over the next two weeks, backup QB Kenny Pickett could be under center in Week 9 against the Jaguars.

Smith’s multi-INT start was his third in five games, bringing him to nine total on the season against just six passing scores. His first was a batted ball in the red zone, and the second would have been a 34-yard pick-six had Mekhi Blackmon’s toe not touched down out of bounds at the Raiders’ six-yard line. Under weekly siege — he has taken 16 sacks in five games — Smith is struggling to see the field and making worse decisions than ever. No stranger to the occasional head scratcher in Seattle, Smith is no longer counteracting the mistakes with big gains down the field. Struggling for superflex relevance at the moment, Smith has a “has to have it” Week 6 matchup in the Titans.