Getty Image / Eric Espada
The Las Vegas Raiders have had an absolutely brutal Thursday. As the team tries to bounce back after blowing a 17-point lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 3rd time this season they’ve blown a large lead, they have been absolutely decimated by injuries.
Ahead of their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, it was reported earlier today that the Raiders were placing Darren Waller on injured reserve after he aggravated a hamstring injury that kept him out of the team’s last 3 games.
Raiders are placing TE Darren Waller on injured reserve, per source. Waller aggravated his hamstring injury and the team believes this will give him four weeks to get it healthy and come back to finish the season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2022
Now another key pass catcher has joined him on IR. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hunter Renfrow will be heading to IR because of an oblique injury.
Davante Adams is about to be very busy after latest Raiders injury news
And one more: Raiders also are placing WR Hunter Renfrow on injured reserve due to his oblique injury, per source. So on the same day, both Renfrow and Darren Waller both are being placed on IR, meaning they’re out at least four games each.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2022
These injuries can only mean one thing for the Las Vegas Raiders. They are about to keep Davante Adams very busy for the next 4 weeks. Adams was targeted 17 times last week and turned those targets into 10 catches for 146 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Now he’ll have even less competition for targets.
Foster Moreau has proven over the past 4 seasons that he can be a serviceable stand in for Waller when he is unavailable, but the Raiders don’t have much depth at receiver without Renfrow. Without him, Adams will be lining up alongside Mack Hollins and Keelan Cole. Hollins has been a pleasant surprise for the Raiders this season, but Cole only as 3 catches.
Cole is also dealing with an injury, but was able to practice yesterday in a limited capacity.
With a defense who has allowed every team they’ve played this season to reach 20 points and only held the Texans and Broncos under 24, the Raiders will still have to do plenty of throwing the rest of the season.
Expect to see Davante Adams rack up a massive target share on those throws while the team is without their 2nd and 3rd options.