Raiders HC Pete Carroll
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With QB Aidan O'Connell injured, Raiders HC Pete Carroll weighed in on backup Cam Miller.
The Las Vegas Raiders will travel to Gillette Stadium for a matchup with the New England Patriots. Moreover, Las Vegas will look to secure the first win of the Pete Carroll era.
Nonetheless, one of the concerns for the Silver and Black this season is the defense, which will get a significant test in Week 1 against the Patriots.
Ahead of the game, New England coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that he expects Drake Maye’s newest target, Stefon Diggs, to be playing against the Raiders.
“As of [September 2], he’ll be out there,” Vrabelsaid in a radio appearance on WEEI.
Diggs went down with a torn ACL midway through the 2024 season with the Houston Texans. However, the Patriots still signed him as a free agent, and their decision looks to be paying off. The veteran receiver had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns before going down with the injury.
The Patriots standoutis set to begin his 11th NFL season. He played five years with Minnesota, followed by four in Buffalo, and spent last season with Houston. Over his career, he has topped 100 receptions in fivedifferent years and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards six times.
Mike Vrabel Quiet on Christian Gonzalez Before Raiders Clash
The major question that the Raiders’ offense will need to ask itself this week is whether or not they’ll be facing Christian Gonzalez. New England’s lockdown corner did not practice on September 1 and has been out since injuring his left hamstring during training camp on July 28.
“He didn’t practice [on September 1],” Vrabel said in the same interview on WEEI. “That’s the only update I can give you. I haven’t seen anything. I haven’t met with the trainers. I got to see you guys before, and then I’ll see the trainers.”
The potential absence of Gonzalez in Week 1 would be a major boost to the Raiders’ receiving game. This side of the football is a work in progress heading into the 2025 season. Las Vegas have a couple of rookies along with veterans Amari Cooper and Jakobi Meyers. In the case of Meyers, he will be looking to show off against his former team.
Will Christian Gonzalez Be Ready to Face Las Vegas?
September 2 was the second straight day that Vrabel talked about the injury to their star defensive back. On September 1, he mentioned how the player wants to be ready to face the Raiders.
“(He’s) working hard and trying to improve, and he wants to be out there, “ Vrabel said,per the Boston Herald. “I think it’s good for us, and for Christian and the team, trying not to be frustrated.
“Obviously those things happen, and it’s how we respond to them, it’s how hard we work to get back, the communication, all the things that he’s doing. So (he’s) continued to work hard to get back, and we’re trying to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help him.”
In his second NFL season, Gonzalez notched 11 passes defended and two interceptions. The Raiders might avoid facing this lockdown defender, giving their receivers a better chance to get open for veteran quarterback Geno Smith.