The Las Vegas Raiders’ offense is undergoing significant changes following their bye week. Along with having a new play-caller in Scott Turner, the team is welcoming back tight end Michael Mayer.
The former second-round pick, who has been sidelined since Week 3 due to a personal issue, recently returned to the team and is now activated from the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list. Mayer is expected to suit up for the Week 11 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
To make room for Mayer, the Raiders released wide receiver Alex Bachman. This marks a tough break for Bachman, who had only recently earned a spot on an active roster after years of bouncing between practice squads.
In six games this season, Bachman recorded three catches for 31 yards, contributing minimally on the field. However, he could return to the Raiders’ practice squad if he clears waivers and isn’t picked up by another team. There’s still a chance he finds his way back to the field this season.
Scott Turner on Taking Over the Raiders’ Offense
With a new offensive coordinator in Scott Turner, it remains to be seen how much of an impact he can make mid-season. Turner will need to work within the framework of the offense previously installed by Luke Getsy, who was recently dismissed.
“You’re not going to go in and put a brand-new offense in,” Turner sai during a press conference on November 14. “Maybe some things that I’m a little bit more comfortable with or I feel like will help us be successful, we have it. And then it’s just about getting it communicated to our players in a way that makes sense to them. There might be a couple of new things here and there, and we’ll see how that grows as the season goes on.”
Turner is focusing on addressing specific issues that have hindered the offense while making incremental changes that align with his style and vision.
Norv Turner Joins Raiders’ Coaching Staff
While Scott Turner will be handling play-calling duties, the Raiders have also brought in his father, Norv Turner, as an offensive advisor. Despite being out of the NFL since 2019, Scott Turner emphasized that his father remains highly engaged with the modern game.
“He watches football constantly,” Turner explained. “He knows what we’ve done on offense. Obviously, the verbiage is totally foreign to him, but I just translate it. He just says what he thinks, and I know, ‘Oh, yeah, we call it this.’ It’s really not that hard. And then just fundamentals. He has tidbits for the quarterbacks. He’s sitting in a lot of the quarterback meetings. Just stuff that you don’t even think of. I can only see so much. We have a great coaching staff, and those guys are doing a great job, too, but it’s just another set of eyes. … And also, he’s not afraid to tell me what he really thinks.”
It remains uncertain how much the Turners can improve the struggling offense, but there’s little room for things to get worse.
