Injuries have decimated the Las Vegas Raiders roster and stricken key contributors such as rookie Damon Arnette. Veteran cornerback Nevin Lawson could seize this as a golden opportunity.
The Raiders were counting on Arnette and Trayvon Mullen to be their top two cornerbacks in 2020. Unfortunately, the injury bug hasn’t been too kind to the Silver and Black with Arnette prognosticated to be out for a while. As a result, it will be up to the 29-year-old Lawson to hold down the fort in his absence.
Lawson has been with the Raiders since last year after spending his career with the Detroit Lions, since they drafted him in 2014. The former Utah State Aggie now finds himself thrust into the lineup after having only seen 49 snaps this season. As our colleague Maurice Moton from Silver and Black Today said yesterday via Twitter, it is ‘Nevin Lawson time.’
Nevin Lawson time.#Raiders
— Maurice Moton (@MoeMoton) October 1, 2020
Related: Injury Affects Ranking For Rookie Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III
Should Raiders Be Worried About Lawson Starting?
Because of his limited action this year, it is difficult to gauge Lawson’s potential or whether there should give Raiders fans a cause for concern. Examining 2019 will give us better insight into what could be expected from the veteran. According to Pro Football Focus, Lawson graded at 63.1 for 2019 based on 300 total snaps. Of those 300 snaps, 215 were on coverage, for his actual grade in this category, Lawson finished with 61.5 last year. One definite positive from Lawson’s play last year was helping in run defense, PFF graded him at 79.4, which is impressive.
Lawson started five out of 11 possible games for the Raiders last year. In those games, he was targeted 26 times and gave up 14 completions. Overall, Lawson allowed a 104.3 QB rating last year and 103.7 the previous year in which he started 14 games in Detroit. No one is expecting Lawson to become a shutdown corner overnight against the Buffalo Bills but he will have to do his best. He himself recognized that they have a good quarterback and are deep at wide receiver. Raider Nation will be anxiously watching this Sunday.
#Raiders CB Nevin Lawson says the #Bills they have a good young QB that can make all the throws on the field. He adds they have surrounded him with a lot of weapons. They are very deep at WR. They have 2 young RBs and a good OL.
— Carlos Sánchez (@HaeruHariken) October 1, 2020
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*Top Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images