With the additions of Davante Adams and Chandler Parsons, as well as new head coach Josh McDaniels, there were serious expectations for the Las Vegas Raiders coming into the season. But things have not gone the way anyone hoped so far.
The Raiders continually came up short in close games but seemed to be on the verge of turning things around thanks to the outstanding performances of Adams and running back Josh Jacobs. But Week 8 was a disaster as the Raiders were shut out in New Orleans against the Saints leading some to wonder whether McDaniels is the right person for the job.
But before the rumors got even more out of control, Raiders owner Mark Davis came out and cleared things up. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Davis made it clear that McDaniels will be the Raiders’ head coach for the foreseeable future:
Just to clear anything up after some “reports” surfaced today. This is from @Raiders owner Mark Davis: “Josh McDaniels Is Our Head Coach And Will Be For Years To Come.”
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) October 31, 2022
Whether or not McDaniels turns out to be the right person to lead the Raiders back to success is unclear, but it was undoubtedly a good move for Davis to come out and shut these rumors down. Those types of clouds hanging over a team can truly hurt things, and the last thing the Raiders need in trying to turn this season around is rumors about the job security of their new head coach.
Now the onus will be on McDaniels to figure out how to get the most out of this Raiders team. The run game had been powering the offense in recent weeks, but against the Saints, Jacobs saw just 10 carries. Falling behind early likely played a role in that, but that is no excuse for a player who came into the game ranked second in rush yards per game.
At 2-5, things are looking bleak for the Raiders, but there is still a glimmer of hope and enough time to at least make a run and have this season end on a respectable note. If they can’t do that and things continue to spiral downhill, there’s no telling what McDaniels’ future with the Raiders could be.
