Jack Bech's emotional return to New Orleans, the city where his brother was tragically killed just under two years ago, was unfortunately cut short on Sunday during the Las Vegas Raiders' Week 3 win over the Saints. Bech got hurt and left the game early, and the updates weren't good.
"Jack Bech fractured his forearm, so we'll evaluate him tomorrow," Klint Kubiak told reporters after the game.
As Raider Nation holds its breath about Bech in hopes that something changes, the team has another decision to make about practice squad wide receiver Cody White. After elevating him three times, Las Vegas has to sign him to the 53-man roster if they want him on the field again on Sundays.
With Bech likely headed to IR and freeing up a spot, promoting White to the active roster feels like the obvious path to take for the Silver and Black.
Young Raiders WR Jack Bech's broken forearm is likely to put him on IR
Kubiak has made the only definitive statement from the team, and it wasn't even all that conclusive. There was no mention of a specific recovery timeline, nor any talk about an IR stint. But later in the press conference, Kubiak said the following, in passing, while talking about something else:
"Every week, someone's going to be out, and we're going to have more guys out this week. Jack Bech is probably going to be out. And the team finds a way to win."
This, in conjunction with a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport saying that Bech is headed to the IR with a designation to return, paints a pretty clear picture of what the future holds for the young wide receiver. And unfortunately, he was just starting to find his stride in a revamped offense.
It's not entirely clear when Bech got hurt, but it seemed to be on the play in the end zone at the end of the first half, when Saints safety Justin Reid cracked Bech on an uncatchable target, which drew an unnecessary roughness penalty. But you wouldn't draw that conclusion from simply watching.
Bech had his right arm wrapped up after the game, but he popped back up after the aforementioned hit and took help-up from Brock Bowers... with his right arm. Then, he played the following two plays before getting checked out and ultimately ruled out at halftime. Bech is tough as nails; a true Raider.
Hopefully, he misses just a few weeks as he recovers from this injury and comes back like nothing ever happened. If nothing else, Bech is a reliable set of hands in crucial situations, and he helps the offense go with his elite run-blocking skills for a wideout. Godspeed on your recovery, Jack!
Cody White should be obvious Jack Bech replacement on Las Vegas' 53-man roster
After a solid showing in Week 1 on special teams, White stole the show in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers with two massive second-half touchdowns. And what did White do when he was elevated from the practice squad again on Sunday? He scored another touchdown.
Three games. Three catches. Three touchdowns.
Just so everyone understands why there is a decision to make or a path to take with White, the NFL rules state that a team can elevate a player from the practice squad for game day and revert him back three times. But if they want to do so a fourth time, the player must be signed to the 53-man roster.
So, the Raiders are out of free elevations, for lack of a better term. And they would have been forced to live without White on Sundays or have to cut someone else from the active team to make room for him if they still wanted him out there. But if Bech goes to IR, that opens up a spot in a simpler way.
Between White's penchant for touchdowns, his strong play on special teams (he made another tackle on a kick return in Week 3), and the fact that he and Bech play the same position, White is a no-brainer to sign in Bech's place while he recovers from his fractured forearm.
The only foreseeable issue is that fellow second-year player Dont'e Thornton Jr. is on short-term IR with a designation to return, and if he's ready, then the Raiders could choose to activate him. But it seems like Kubiak loves him some Cody White, so it's likely that they'll sign him in the coming days.
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