With Davante Adams now gone, the Las Vegas Raiders face a significant void at wide receiver that likely won’t be filled this season. Adams is one of the NFL’s elite receivers, and the Raiders won’t easily find a comparable replacement.
For the time being, they’re giving a practice squad player a shot. The Raiders have announced the signing of Alex Bachman to the active roster.
Bachman, who has been in the NFL since 2019 and appeared in seven games, is now officially part of an active roster for the first time. According to Bachman, no other player has spent more time on a practice squad than he has.
“Six years of work, pain, and patience. Longest tenured practice squad player of all time, and I’ll wear that like a badge of honor. Just keep working. Stay relentless. Thank you, Father,” Bachman wrote on X.
Most players either exit the NFL or make it to an active roster before spending six years on a practice squad. Bachman now has the biggest opportunity of his career, and with the Raiders needing a wide receiver to step up, his role is uncertain, though he had three catches in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tre Tucker Ready to Step Up
With Adams gone, there’s a big chance for receivers lower on the depth chart, but the Raiders also need their top receivers to perform. Tre Tucker is currently the only healthy starting wide receiver but was held without a catch against the Steelers.
Tucker has explosive speed, but the Raiders lack a quarterback who can consistently throw deep. The team needs him to get open on shorter, more intermediate routes. Tucker believes he’s ready for the challenge.
“I always tell my coaches, ‘It’s not what you do, it’s the people you get to do it with,’ and [Adams] was one of those guys,” Tucker told reporters this week. “He’s taught me a lot. That’s one of the things I told him after we talked—I said, ‘I appreciate you.’ I feel like I’m ready to take the next step.”
While the Raiders may need to target wide receiver help in the offseason, Tucker emerging as an impact player could allow them to focus on other needs.
“It’s definitely exciting,” Tucker said of his opportunity. “With [Adams] being gone, you play more snaps and face a No. 1 or No. 2 cornerback.
“But I feel like I’m ready, and I’m not taking that lightly.”
Raiders Offense in Trouble
Even with Adams having played in three games, the Raiders’ offense has struggled, averaging just 18.2 points per game—27th in the NFL.
Losing Adams will only compound their issues, especially with Jakobi Meyers nursing an ankle injury. If the Raiders hope to salvage their season, they may need to add more wide receiver depth. However, if the losses continue to pile up, they might be better off embracing what they have and aiming for a high draft pick in 2025.