Las Vegas Raiders: 3 big questions entering 2021 Week 1
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 big questions entering 2021 Week 1
How significant will injuries play a role in Week 1?
Injuries can always determine the outcome of any game, any given week. However, the injury list on the Ravens has a lot more names on it than the Raiders does. This is especially evident on the offensive side of the ball for Baltimore.
The Ravens are without starting running back JK Dobbins, who went down recently with a season-ending torn ACL. They have just moved recent first-round pick wide receiver Rashod Bateman and another receiver in Miles Boykin to injured reserve, as well, while top receiver, Marquise Brown, has just recently returned to practice after missing over a month due to injury.
With such uncertainty at the receiver position, and now a much weaker rotation at running back, it seems the Ravens will look like a much easier group to compete with on offense. The Ravens have an offense that thrives on running, and short passing plays, but with so many threats now missing on offense, it would seem the Raiders will be stacking the box early and often to combat the dual-threat ability of Lamar Jackson.
Jackson could be forced to scramble even more than usual, something that will hopefully play into the Raiders’ hands. If there was ever a time to catch Jackson and the Ravens, it would be with so many weapons watching from the sidelines.