The Las Vegas Raiders dropped a heartbreaker 10-7 to the Denver Broncos on Thursday, November 6, 2025 — but the real damage came off the field. With just minutes left in the game, Geno Smith, the Raiders’ 34-year-old starting quarterback, went down after a brutal sack by Nik Bonitto. What followed wasn’t just a setback — it was a cascade. Jackson Powers-Johnson, the 24-year-old right guard, went down on the same play. And then, just hours later, another blow: left guard Dylan Parham was ruled out with a high ankle sprain. The Raiders’ offensive line, already crippled without Kolton Miller on injured reserve, is now in shambles. Head coach Pete Carroll, 74, didn’t mince words in his Friday morning presser: "It’s a mess. And we’re running out of bodies."
The Sack That Changed Everything
The play happened at 10:51 PM Eastern Time, just before the start of the fourth quarter. Smith, who’d completed 12 of 21 passes for 94 yards and one interception, dropped back on third-and-8. Bonitto, the Broncos’ 25-year-old edge rusher, beat right tackle Alex Bars with a spin move, then wrapped Smith’s right knee as he fell. The impact wasn’t just to Smith — it sent Powers-Johnson’s right ankle twisting under the weight of falling defensive lineman Malcolm Roach. Smith limped off, clutching his left quad. Powers-Johnson didn’t get up at all. Trainers carted him off. The crowd fell silent. The Raiders’ offense, already struggling, lost its backbone.
Carroll’s Injury Report: One Hope, One Heartbreak
By 12:50 AM on November 7, Pete Carroll stood at the podium, his voice tired but clear. "Geno’s got a quad contusion," he said. "It’s painful, but it’s not structural. He’ll be ready for Week 11." That’s the good news. The bad? "Jackson Powers-Johnson? He’s out for a while." The phrase echoed through the locker room. "A while" in NFL terms doesn’t mean a week. It means weeks. And for a team that just lost its starting right guard, it means scrambling.
Carroll confirmed that Powers-Johnson suffered a severe lateral ankle sprain with possible ligament damage — the same injury that sidelined Dylan Parham earlier in the game. Parham, 25, had already been playing through discomfort since Week 8. Now, he’s on IR-eligible status. That leaves the Raiders with Kolton Miller (out since Week 5), Powers-Johnson (out indefinitely), and Parham (out indefinitely). That’s three of five starting offensive linemen gone.
The Line That Can’t Hold
The Raiders’ offensive line has been a ticking clock since their 2020 move to Las Vegas. Miller, 30, was supposed to be the anchor. Powers-Johnson, a 2022 third-round pick out of Oregon, was the future. Parham, acquired in a 2023 trade, was the stabilizer. Now, none are available. Backup center Dakota Dozier, 31, is being shifted to guard. Rookie Trevor Keegan, a sixth-round pick from Yale, is being promoted from the practice squad — a move that could cost the Raiders dearly if the Broncos’ pass rush, led by Bonitto, gets loose again.
And Bonitto? He’s no fluke. Selected 64th overall in the 2022 draft, he’s now tied for third in the NFL with 9.5 sacks this season. He didn’t just injure two players — he exposed a vulnerability the Raiders have been ignoring for months.
What Happens in Week 11?
With Geno Smith expected to return, the Raiders will have their starting QB. But who protects him? Backup Kenny Pickett, 26, is on the roster — but he hasn’t started since 2023. The team might turn to veteran Cody Mauch, who’s played guard for the Minnesota Vikings, but he’s a free agent. The Raiders have no cap space to sign a lineman. And with their Week 11 opponent — the Kansas City Chiefs — boasting the league’s most aggressive pass rush, the odds are grim.
Carroll admitted as much. "We’re not going to win with a patchwork line," he said. "But we’re not going to quit either."
Why This Matters Beyond Las Vegas
This isn’t just about one team’s bad luck. The Raiders are a symbol of NFL instability. Since relocating to Las Vegas, they’ve had five different offensive line coaches, three starting quarterbacks, and zero playoff appearances. Their 2024 offseason spending spree on defense left the line underfunded. Now, injuries are revealing what the draft and free agency ignored: depth. The league is built on continuity. The Raiders have none.
Meanwhile, the Broncos — who improved to 6-4 with the win — are quietly building something sustainable. Bonitto’s sack wasn’t just a play. It was a statement. And for the Raiders, it was a warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Geno Smith play in Week 11 against the Chiefs?
Yes, according to head coach Pete Carroll, Smith’s quad contusion is not structural and he’s expected to be fully cleared for Week 11. Smith has a history of bouncing back from similar injuries — he returned from a quad issue in Week 6 last season to throw for 248 yards. The Raiders will likely limit his practice reps this week, but he’s on track to start against Kansas City.
How long will Jackson Powers-Johnson be out?
"For a while," as Carroll put it, likely means 4–6 weeks. Early MRI results suggest a Grade 2 lateral ankle sprain with possible damage to the ATFL ligament. That’s the same injury that sidelined Justin Jefferson for five weeks in 2023. The Raiders won’t rush him back — especially with their playoff hopes fading. He’s expected to miss at least Weeks 11 and 12.
Who will start at right guard for the Raiders in Week 11?
Rookie Trevor Keegan is the frontrunner, though he’s never played an NFL snap. The Raiders may also move center Dakota Dozier to guard and insert Kareem Are, a 2024 undrafted free agent, at center. Neither option inspires confidence. The Chiefs’ defensive line, led by Chris Jones, will be salivating.
Why hasn’t the Raiders’ front office addressed the offensive line?
They prioritized defense in 2024, spending over $120 million on free agents like Derek Barnett and Jalen Ramsey. The offensive line was left to develop internally — a gamble that’s backfired. With only $1.2 million in cap space and no picks until 2026, they’re stuck. This isn’t just a coaching issue — it’s a front-office failure.
Is Pete Carroll’s job in danger after this loss and injury crisis?
Not yet. Owner Mark Davis has publicly backed Carroll since hiring him in February 2024. But if the Raiders drop to 4-7 after Week 11, pressure will mount. Carroll’s reputation as a player-developer is intact — but his ability to build a functional roster is under scrutiny. The Raiders’ 2025 season is likely over. The question now is whether they’ll rebuild under him or start over in 2026.
How does this compare to past Raiders injury crises?
The 2016 Raiders lost three starting linemen in a single game against the Steelers — and still made the playoffs. But that team had Marshawn Lynch and a strong running game. This team has no running game (ranked 31st in the NFL) and a quarterback who’s under constant pressure. The 2025 Raiders are more vulnerable than any team since the 2004 squad, which lost 13 games after a similar offensive line collapse.
