Three games into this season, second-year tight end Michael Mayer left the team for personal reasons. The 2023 round two pick was later placed on the NFI list which is where he’d been the past four games. He returned to practice this week with the team coming out of their bye week.
TE Michael Mayer injury update
Michael Mayer was officially activated from the Non-Football Illness list Saturday and will play today in Miami.
Earlier this week head coach Antonio Pierce had expressed his excitement that ‘Big Mike” had returned to practice. On Friday, he added that Mayer was “trending up” in terms of the likelihood he would play this week.
“He’ss always been a part of the plan first and foremost,” Pierce continued. “But obviously with losing people through injuries or trades, I think there’s obviously an opportunity there for him. But really, I think just getting him back to par with our team, obviously new offensive coordinator there with Scott Turner and just getting back in the fold, you want to be smart with it. You want to be smart. But obviously Mike is a big part of our plans this year, this week and the future. So, the more we can get him involved, the better.”
Tight end depth chart
Mayer will be the second tight end for the Raiders along with top pick rookie Brock Bowers. Which means the two could both start the game, but Bowers should get the bulk of the snaps and targets.
Harrison Bryant will not play, which means the third tight end will be recent practice squad callup Justin Shorter.
Mayer has appeared in just three games this season, putting up four catches for 21 yards before leaving the team for personal reasons. The Raiders are hoping he’s fully ready to go for the latter half of the season, starting with today vs the Dolphins.
