Raiders Rumors: Sidney Jones IV expected to Sign Contract After Seahawks Release
Nov 7, 2022
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Sidney Jones IV (23) looks on during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Lachlan Cunningham)
Cornerback Sidney Jones IV is expected to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders pending a physical, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected the former University of Washington star with the No. 43 pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He tore his Achilles during Washington's pro day and played just one game during the 2017 season.
Jones played nine games (four starts) in 2018 as hamstring injuries sidelined him for nearly half the season.
In 2019, Jones played 12 games (four starts). In Sept. 2020, the Eagles waived Jones, who then immediately signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags traded Jones to the Seattle Seahawks in Aug. 2021 for a sixth-round draft pick. He played 16 games (11 starts) for Seattle and registered 66 tackles and 10 pass breakups.
Jones was benched in 2022, however, as Seattle went with rookie Tariq Woolen and Mike Jackson as their starting cornerbacks. The sixth-year pro missed time during training camp and preseason with a concussion.
The Seahawks waived Jones on Nov. 1, but it didn't take long for him to find a new team.
For his career, Jones has played 50 games (25 starts) with 147 tackles, four interceptions, 29 pass breakups and four tackles for loss.
He now joins a struggling Raiders team that fell to 2-6 after blowing a 17-0 deficit en route to a 27-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday. Las Vegas entered Sunday allowing the second-highest quarterback rating in the NFL, per Pro Football Reference.
The Raiders certainly hope Jones can help stop the bleeding on the back end after allowing Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence to complete 25 of 31 passes for 235 yards.
Jones and the Raiders' next game will be Sunday at home versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Josh McDaniels, Raiders Ripped by Fans for Blowing 17-Point Lead, Losing to Jaguars
Nov 6, 2022
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes as he is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Las Vegas Raiders fell to 2-6 after a 27-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The story, as it has been many times this season, was the Raiders blowing another first-half lead.
Las Vegas led 17-0 early and went into halftime with a 20-10 advantage. The squad fell apart in the second half, leading to plenty of mockery on social media.
Discounting last week, it's the same problems every week for #Raiders. Defense can't stop anyone. Offense good but has no margin of error and has untimely bad drives. Kick coverage has been an abomination.
Don’t even let Josh McDaniels on the plane home. Cardinals. Chiefs. Saints. Jags. And how they lost these games. Embarrassing. Pathetic, Raiders. Again.
Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne helped the Jaguars offense total 403 yards from scrimmage in an impressive offensive effort to come from behind.
The Raiders offense also disappeared in the second half, failing to score a single point while punting three times and turning it over on downs once.
It was a major change from the first half, when Davante Adams exploded for over 100 yards and two scores. Fans were excited to see the All-Pro get back on track after a quiet Week 8.
Derek Carr to Davante Adams for their 2nd score today🔥
After going three & out to start the game, Derek Carr found Davante Adams 6 times for 88 yards and a touchdown ON ONE DRIVE! @FresnoStateFB connection on display in Jacksonville. @ABC30pic.twitter.com/GmGtNbreMP
#Raiders Davante Adams has 7 catches for 126 yards and 2 TDs. Last player w/ those numbers in a 1st half was Tyreek Hill with 8-210-2 for Chiefs vs Bucs in 2020
This still wasn't enough for the Raiders as the second-half struggles led to another loss. The squad hosts the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10, but time is running out to turn things around on the season.
How Much Patience Should the Raiders Have with Derek Carr and Josh McDaniels?
Nov 4, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 14: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on as head coach Josh McDaniels speaks during a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated Vikings the 26-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
With new head coach Josh McDaniels on board and elite wide receiver Davante Adams teaming up with purported franchise quarterback Derek Carr, there was so much hope and hype surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders entering the 2022 NFL season.
The Raiders were already coming off a playoff campaign in which they won each of their last four games to finish 10-7, and the defense was also expected to be better with Pro Bowl pass-rusher Chandler Jones joining the fray.
And yet, at about midseason, the Raiders are essentially facing extinction from the 2022 playoff picture Sunday in a tough road matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. At 2-5, they're already three games out in the AFC West—where they reside in last place. And only six teams rank lower than them when it comes to DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) at Football Outsiders.
Sure, they suffered tough, close losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs (a potential season-saver in Week 5), but their bye week is already in the past and now they're coming off a horrendous 24-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
"It was embarrassing," Carr told reporters after passing for just 101 yards in that defeat. "We are so much better than that."
Any NFL team is better than that, but at what point does Carr lose the benefit of the doubt? Being even a lot better than that might not be enough for a 31-year-old with a $40.5 million average annual salary and nearly a decade under his belt.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 30: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome on October 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, McDaniels apologized to Raider Nation following that shutout loss in New Orleans, and it might not take much longer to wonder if he's cut out to be an NFL head coach. The longtime Bill Belichick disciple failed quite miserably in his first head-coaching stint with the Denver Broncos more than a decade ago, and he's now 5-14 in his last 19 games as the head sideline honcho for an NFL squad.
I know, it wasn't even seven months ago when Carr signed a fresh three-year, $121.5 million extension through 2025, and he's had just seven games to get reacclimated with former college teammate Adams in McDaniels' offense.
And I know, McDaniels was introduced to much fanfare as the team's head coach just nine months ago. He's had just seven games to tailor his offense around Carr, Adams and key cogs Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow—the latter two of whom haven't been healthy of late.
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 23: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels watches action during the game featuring the Houston Texans and the Las Vegas Raiders on October 23, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
And that offense has been a mess beyond the quarterback position, a lot of which has to fall on McDaniels. They rank bottom-12 in the red zone despite a ton of talent, and it's fair to wonder if the guy is suited to run an NFL team.
And there's a reason why the Raiders essentially have an out from Carr's monster contract after this season. Per Spotrac, it would cost the team just $5.6 million to walk away from Carr in the 2023 offseason. And if current dynamics hold up, the front office would have to at least consider going in a new direction.
We're not just talking about a seven-game sample for Carr, who is just 12-12 in 24 starts the last two seasons. During that span, he ranks just 18th out of 34 qualified quarterbacks with a passer rating of 92.0. And only six quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions in that time period, which is jarring considering that Carr isn't exactly a legendary risktaker or gunslinger.
If he can't figure it out with this much support in Year 9, is there any point in paying him nearly $35 million for Year 10? You could likely spend a lot less on impending free agent Jimmy Garoppolo, who has far superior numbers in place of Trey Lance for the San Francisco 49ers this season. And that Lamar Jackson guy is also in possession of an expiring contract—although that's obviously an expensive pipe dream.
And then of course there's a draft class that could include electric Ohio State signal-caller C.J. Stroud, polished Alabama product Bryce Young and fellow potential first-rounders in Will Levis, Jaren Hall and K.J. Jefferson.
So there will be alternatives. And most would come a lot cheaper, freeing up space to take care of impending free agents like Jacobs, Denzel Perryman, Rock Ya-Sin and Mack Hollins.
Reuniting Carr and Adams and grouping them with McDaniels created plenty of intrigue, but if that trio can't make it work over 17 games in 2022, it might already be time to pull the trigger on one or two members.
At the very least, it has to be a consideration depending on the markets for quarterbacks and coaches, as well as the impact of just how hard this version of the Raiders falls.
Ray Guy, Raiders Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Dies at 72
Nov 3, 2022
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1980: Ray Guy #8 of the Oakland Raiders punts the ball during an NFL football game circa 1980. Guy played for the Raiders from 1973-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Guy has died at the age of 72.
The University of Southern Mississippi, Guy's alma mater, announced he died on Thursday following a lengthy illness.
The Oakland Raiders made Guy the first punter ever selected in the first round of the NFL draft when they took him No. 23 overall in 1973.
During his 14-year NFL career, Guy was named to eight All-Pro teams and led the league in yards per punt three times. The Georgia native was named to the NFL's All-Decade team in the 1970s, the 75th anniversary all-time team in 1994 and 100th anniversary all-time team in 2019.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Guy as part of the 2014 class. He is the only pure punter to receive that honor.
The Augusta Sports Council established the Ray Guy Award in 2000, presented annually to the most outstanding punter in college football.
Guy played both defensive back and kicker for the Golden Eagles from 1969 to 1972. He recorded 18 interceptions during his college career.
Per SouthernMiss.com, Guy also threw a no-hitter as a member of the baseball team. He was selected in the Major League Baseball draft four times between 1969 and 1973, including by the Cincinnati Reds (twice), Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.
Guy's No. 44 jersey is one of three that have been retired by Southern Mississippi, along with No. 4 for Brett Favre and No. 10 for Reggie Collier.
Raiders GM Dave Ziegler 'Really Impressed' with Josh McDaniels Despite 2-5 Start
Nov 2, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders takes to the field before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Although the Las Vegas Raiders are off to a disappointing 2-5 start this season, general manager Dave Ziegler's confidence in head coach Josh McDaniels is not wavering.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Ziegler said Wednesday that he has been "really impressed" with the job McDaniels has done, adding: "At 2-5, your leadership gets tested, and I have been really impressed with how he's handled that."
Ziegler also told Tafur that he is happy with the development and improvement of several players under McDaniels, including running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Mack Hollins, among others.
Despite going through the turmoil of firing head coach Jon Gruden and replacing him with Rich Bisaccia on an interim basis last season, the Raiders managed to go 10-7 and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and only the second time since 2002.
That seemingly gave Bisaccia a strong case to land the full-time job, but the Raiders instead opted to overhaul the power structure.
The Raiders turned to the New England Patriots by hiring longtime Patriots executive Ziegler as their GM and longtime Patriots offensive coordinator McDaniels as their head coach.
Both McDaniels and Ziegler enjoyed a ton of success during their time in New England, with McDaniels winning six Super Bowls and Ziegler winning three.
Before they were both employed by the Pats, McDaniels and Ziegler spent a short amount of time together in the Denver Broncos organization as well. McDaniels was the Broncos' head coach for parts of two seasons in 2009 and 2010, while Ziegler was Denver's player personnel assistant in 2010.
The Broncos job was McDaniels' first opportunity to be an NFL head coach, and it didn't go particularly well, as he went 8-8 in the first season, and was then fired after a 3-9 start in 2010.
Just two years later, McDaniels was back in New England as the OC under head coach Bill Belichick, and he reprised his role as the one calling the plays for quarterback Tom Brady.
McDaniels reached great heights alongside Belichick and Brady, but that same level of success has eluded him at his other stops thus far.
It is still early in his tenure with the Raiders, but Las Vegas was heralded as a potential Super Bowl contender in the AFC entering the season thanks to big-time additions like wide receiver Davante Adams and pass-rusher Chandler Jones.
While Jacobs has experienced a resurgent season under McDaniels, quarterback Derek Carr has perhaps taken a step back, and the Raiders are only a middle-of-the-pack team offensively, ranking 16th in total yardage and 12th in scoring.
Meanwhile, their defense has been disastrous, ranking 25th in both yardage allowed and points allowed.
McDaniels has yet to prove he can get the job done as an NFL head coach, but given Ziegler's comments, it seems unlikely that any changes are imminent.
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Josh McDaniels Apologizes to Raiders Fans for Shutout Loss to Saints
Oct 30, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders takes to the field before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Expectations were high coming into the season for the Las Vegas Raiders after they acquired Davante Adams, but things have not gone according to plan.
And head coach Josh McDaniels is sorry for the 2-5 start.
"I apologize to Raider Nation for that performance," McDaniels told reporters following Sunday's 24-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
It was a performance worthy of an apology.
Las Vegas didn't score a single point, as Derek Carr went 15-of-26 for 101 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Josh Jacobs managed just 43 yards on the ground, as the Raiders had to shift away from the ground game as they fell behind into comeback mode.
New Orleans didn't have to do much on offense given its defensive performance, but Andy Dalton still impressed, going 22-of-30 for 229 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Alvin Kamara was the star as he scored all three of the home team's touchdowns, with one coming on the ground and the other two through the air.
New Orleans is just 3-5 on the season but in a much better position than the 2-5 Raiders thanks to their respective divisions. The Saints are just one game behind the 4-4 Atlanta Falcons for first place in the NFC South, while Las Vegas is in last place in a much more daunting AFC West.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are in first place at 5-2, while the 4-3 Los Angeles Chargers and 3-5 Denver Broncos are also ahead of McDaniels' team.
McDaniels helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls as an offensive coordinator but has yet to find success as a head coach. He went 11-17 in two seasons with the Broncos in 2009 and 2010 and is off to a lackluster start in his first year with the Raiders.
Perhaps he can get things turned around, but it's not the best sign that he is already apologizing just seven games into the campaign.
Raiders Fans Call for Josh McDaniels' Firing After Blowout Loss to Saints, 2-5 Start
Oct 30, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders takes to the field before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders were blown out by the New Orleans Saints 24-0 on Sunday at Caesars Superdome to drop to 2-5 on the season, and things probably couldn't have gone any worse for the team.
Quarterback Derek Carr put together one of his worst starts of the season, completing 15 of 26 passes for 101 yards and no touchdowns against one interception. Star wide receiver Davante Adams posted one catch for three yards on five targets, and Mack Hollins led the team with seven catches for 64 yards on eight targets.
While the offense looked disjointed, the defense played just as poorly, allowing the Saints to tally 367 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
Saints quarterback Andy Dalton had an impressive performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns against no interceptions, and running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 62 yards and one touchdown, in addition to catching nine passes for 96 yards and two scores.
With the Raiders showing zero signs of improvement under new head coach Josh McDaniels, fans are now calling for him to be fired:
McDaniels has never put together a winning season as an NFL head coach. During his first season as head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009, the team went 8-8. In 2010, Denver went 3-9 before McDaniels was fired.
If the 46-year-old isn't fired following Sunday's loss, he'll undoubtedly be on the hot seat.
The 2-5 Raiders will meet the 2-6 Jacksonville Jaguars next weekend at TIAA Bank Field.
Josh Jacobs Credits Raiders OL for Rushing Success, Talks Declined Contract Option
Oct 28, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 23: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up on the field prior to their game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs credited his offensive line for his breakout 2022 season in an interview with Jim Trotter for NFL.com.
"If you look at the years I've been in the league since my rookie year, this is the first time I've had lanes where I'm not getting touched for 3 yards. I'm not having to make people miss in the backfield. I don't think the O-line gets enough credit. You only see when they mess up. You don't ever see how good they've really been. Obviously we've found an identity running the ball, and that's a testament to them. I just put my spin on it after they have already laid the groundwork."
Jacobs has been on fire over the past three weeks thanks to 523 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. The Raiders have averaged 33.0 points per game during that span.
He's also rushed for 5.7 yards per carry for the year, which is second behind only the Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb for any running back with at least 100 carries. His 633 rushing yards ranks third overall behind Chubb and the New York Giants' Saquon Barkley.
Jacobs has been exceptional, but the line has played a big role, too.
According to ESPN Analytics, the Raiders' offensive line is currently fourth in run-block win rate (74 percent). Football Outsiders ranks the Raiders' run-blocking unit No. 1 in the league with 5.69 adjusted-line yards per carry.
Offensive tackle Kolton Miller has notably been a stalwart on the offensive line this year. He's the only Raider to have played every offensive snap this season.
In Sunday's 38-20 win over the Houston Texans, Miller, center Andre James, guards Alex Bars and Dylan Parham and tackle Thayer Munford served as the O-line combination for most of the game. Parham and Munford are rookies.
Jacobs rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries that afternoon.
The Raiders selected Jacobs, a former Alabama star, with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He averaged 1,280 yards from scrimmage over his first three campaigns while scoring 28 touchdowns.
The 24-year-old is well on his way to a career year in 2022, however, and he'll also be entering free agency after the Raiders declined his fifth-year option last offseason.
Jacobs looked at that as a positive, though, in comments made to Trotter.
"If you want me to be honest, I was thinking, OK, I'm 24 years old. I'm about to get to the bag (free agency dollars) faster now. I'm one year closer to doing what I've been working for all these years. To me, I didn't look at it negatively. I'm going to be 25, getting a deal, and can still play five years or whatever, and can retire before 31 having played 10 years in the league.
"I'm one of those guys who can't look at things too negatively because it will affect me. It will affect the way I go about my work and my business. I'm one of those guys who has to talk to himself, like, 'This can happen, and this can happen. Focus on the bright side of everything and then go from there.'"
For now, Jacobs and the Raiders are continuing to focus on bouncing back from an 0-3 start. They've gone 2-1 since with the lone loss a 30-29 defeat to the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs. They'll visit the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.
