Raiders have major issues to address

Sunday’s 45-17 loss to the Patriots was the Raiders’ first non-competitive game since Klint Kubiak was hired, and after the last two weeks there are a couple of trends developing in the wrong direction.

The 2026 season was always expected to be a rebuilding year, but after a 3-0 start, it felt like Kubiak might have the magic to make this special.

For now, the thought of winning the AFC West or wiggling into the playoffs can probably be put to rest, and it’s time to focus on where the Raiders need to get better.

Here are three observations after the fifth week of the season…

It might be time to rest Ashton Jeanty

The Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty with the no. 6 pick in last year’s draft with the hope he might be the league’s next Maurice Jones-Drew.

Jeanty has the talent to be one the NFL’s best running backs, but he is clearly not 100 percent right now and head coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged that after Sunday’s game

“Ashton is beat up. And it’s a testament to how tough he is that he’s out there playing today for his teammates,” Kubiak said at the postgame press conference.

For Jeanty’s part, he said he’s going to play every week if he’s able.

“Unless I can’t run, jump, I’m playing. Football is a tough game. You’re never going to play feeling 100 percent. So, at the end of the day, I just want to go out there and do my best for my teammates and whatever it takes.”

The problem is that at some point the Raiders have to protect Jeanty from himself and if their star running back is a pedestrian running back with a bad ankle and a bad foot, it might be time to let him rest for a week or two.

If he’s not getting better, it’s time to let Jeanty heal. His 3.4 yards per carry aren’t going to be missed while does what he needs to do to get back to being a dynamic running back again.

Rob Leonard’s defense regressed on Sunday

Whatever the game plan was supposed to be against the Patriots, it turned out to be a lot of young cornerbacks left alone without safety help over top.

Hezekiah Masses was the darling of the Raiders’ secondary a few weeks ago, but it’s worth noting that two of his three interceptions were balls that were 1) bobbled by a wide receiver and bounced right in his hands and 2) a grossly underthrown because of a Malcolm Koonce pressure on the quarterback.

Masses can only make the plays that are in front of him, but it could be a while before he gets opportunities like the two he got at the start of the season.

Opposing offenses are targeting Masses and there is a reason why.

As for the Raiders’ pass rush, it hasn’t been much in the last two weeks, and it looks like we’re back to the days of Maxx Crosby or bust when it comes to getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Teams aren’t scared of the Raiders’ wide receivers

Until garbage time in the fourth quarter, Raider wide receivers were a non-factor on Sunday.

With the Patriots missing four quarterbacks, Raider wideouts should have been able to attack New England’s backup cornerbacks, but they did not because they simply do not have a true no. 1 wide receiver.

It would be nice idea to re-sign Tre Tucker after the season, but he can’t be at the top of the depth chart at wide receiver if the Raiders want to compete with the top teams in the league.

Brock Bowers is abusing opposing cornerbacks, but the Raiders need one more legitimate threat to keep opposing defenses from keying on Bowers.

Could Fernando Mendoza open up the offense?

And one more idea to consider…

It might be a good idea to see what Mendoza can do with the current wide receiver room before the end of the season. Mendoza has the arm strength to open up a few routes Kirk Cousins isn’t able to pull off at this stage in his career.

Just something to think about after seeing Mendoza look not too bad in garbage time on Sunday afternoon.

x: @raidersbeat