Raiders report: Special teams won’t allow poor performance to ‘snowball’

It was an out-of-character performance for a group that has been solid under special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, who has been with the team since 2022.

“Obviously, they really had their way with us,” said coach Pete Carroll, who credited Commanders special teams coach Larry Izzo for putting together a solid game plan.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff 69 yards on Sunday, leading to an opening-drive touchdown for Washington. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane added a 90-yard punt return touchdown for the Commanders in the third quarter.

“That was a really surprising ball game because we’ve been solid for all the way through Tom’s years and all that,” Carroll said. “That was a game that those two carries just got away from us and made a huge difference in the game. You never plan on having to deal with that factor unless it’s on our side. So, everybody’s working really hard. They’re taking into account the things that they have to do and do better. We have to play better as a whole group.”

Carroll believes the problems are fixable.

A couple guys got out of their lanes on Samuel’s kickoff return. Rookie gunner Darien Porter was double teamed and forced out of bounds on Lane’s punt return, throwing the rest of the coverage unit off.

The two plays were a reminder that every job on special teams is important.

“I watched it a couple times. We’ve been through it in meetings and seen what we’ve needed to see,” punter and special teams captain AJ Cole said of the touchdown return.

Cole’s message to his teammates is simple. It’s time to get back on track.

“It’s a long season, so you have to keep swinging,” he said. “Don’t let one bad game turn into two. Don’t let it be a snowball effect. We have to take the information, learn how we can be better and just move forward.”

The Raiders have plenty of reason to believe their special teams can bounce back.

Cole and kicker Daniel Carlson are Pro Bowlers. McMahon is one of the most accomplished and respected special teams coaches in the NFL.

Still, the group knows it needs to get back on track.

“We’ve just got to get better,” Cole said.

Injury report

Tight end Brock Bowers got in a full practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a knee injury Week 1.

Bowers hasn’t missed a game, but he’s been limited to nine catches for 76 yards the last two weeks.

“He’s been making it,” Carroll said. “(The training staff) treated him well and got him to play in these games. He’s still wearing a legitimate brace that he can feel, but he’ll continue for another couple weeks having to wear that brace to be safe.”

Fellow tight end Michael Mayer did not practice after suffering a concussion in a scary incident during Sunday’s game. Mayer was with the team Wednesday and going through the league’s protocol to return. He likely won’t play this week, but is on a positive track.

Safety Jeremy Chinn was limited with a pectoral injury he was able to play through Sunday. Cornerback Decamerion Richardson, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, was also limited Wednesday.

The Bears had five players miss practice due to injury: Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring), defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring), defensive lineman Grady Jarrett (knee), tight end Colston Loveland (hip) and offensive lineman Darnell Wright (elbow).

Blocking it out

A rant by ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark in which he claimed Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty doesn’t have the “it factor” of other young star running backs went viral last week.

Jeanty, who Clark loosely compared unfavorably to Trent Richardson, wasn’t among those who viewed the video.

“I haven’t seen anything,” Jeanty said Wednesday. “I don’t really care what anybody has to say about me anyways, so it’s cool.”

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.