Who will step up at linebacker for the Raiders?
One of the few bright spots on the defensive side of the ball this season has been linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, the lesser-hyped of the linebacking tandem brought in via free agency this offseason. Unfortunately, Kwiatkoski was placed on the COVID list this week, and he will not be available for the Raiders in Saturday’s game against Miami.
That leaves a big hole at the linebacker spot, especially with Cory Littleton’s decline this season, and the fact that Nicholas Morrow missed last week with a neck/concussion injury. Morrow was also placed on the COVID list this week, so he won’t go, which means the Raiders will have to lean heavily on former Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
McMillan actually had his best game as a Raider against the Chargers and is starting to look like a great get for the Silver and Black. He is going to be out to prove that the Dolphins made a mistake by trading him away, and if he can step up for Las Vegas in Week 16, it will fill the huge void left by Kwiatkoski.