Next Man Up? Who Will Step Up for Las Vegas Raiders at WR?

September 1, 2020

The Las Vegas Raiders are going into the 2020 season hoping to be one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. However, those hopes took a major hit on Tuesday when NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport reported that wide receiver Tyrell Williams was placed on the Injury Reserve list with a torn labrum, meaning the Western Oregon product won’t be seeing the field this season.

The Raiders were already planning on starting the season without Williams, but losing him for the season has to be a major blow for a team looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016. On Saturday's episode, Raider Cody pegged rookie wide receiver Bryan Edwards as the player that he thinks should replace Williams on the roster.

“If he can pick it up, and he can grow chemistry, and he can be in the right spot, run the right routes, and be there mentally, I think (Edwards) can be there to succeed,” Raider Cody said.

General manager Mike Mayock selected Edwards in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the former South Carolina standout may get his chance to shine now that Williams is out. Edwards left the Gamecocks as one of the best receivers in program history, leaving with the school record for career receiving yards at 3,045.

Raider Cody's guest, SiriusXM Executive Producer Eddie Borsilli, disagreed with his take on Edwards and thinks that the Raiders will go in a different direction to fill Williams' place given this season’s unusual circumstances with the coronavirus pandemic. Borsilli suspects a veteran receiver in the Raiders camp like Nelson Agholor or Zay Jones will be the one to fill the void left by Williams.

“2020 is a unique season in that rookies are going to be at a little bit of a disadvantage because there’s no preseason games, there’s nothing for them to judge,” said Borsilli. “I am one hundred percent on the Bryan Edwards hype train, but early in the season at least, I’m thinking more of an Agholor or a Zay Jones is going to take that spot.”

Either way, the Raiders will have just under two weeks to make their decision, as they will take on the Carolina Panthers in Week One on Sept. 13.

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