LAS VEGAS — Every season delivers a few players who quietly tilt the field, and for the Las Vegas Raiders, Jeremy Chinn is already making his case as one of those difference-makers. The versatile defensive back has proven to be a valuable asset for the Silver and Black. Now, as he returns to Washington for a homecoming game, the attention surrounding him continues to increase.
Head coach Pete Carroll couldn’t have been clearer about Chinn’s impact. “I love what [Jeremy] Chinn’s doing. He gives us all kinds of flexibility. We do a lot of stuff with him. He’s got a lot of game. He can really run, and that goes along with being physical and all the rest,” Carroll said, addressing the media.
That flexibility showed up right away in the Raiders’ last outing. On the opening drive, Chinn blew up a key play that forced a field goal instead of a touchdown—a momentum swing that doesn’t show up in highlight reels but changes the course of games. In an AFC West stacked with high-powered offenses, those moments matter more than box scores.
Still, Carroll wasn’t shy about the danger of this week’s matchup for Chinn. “I’m concerned about guys going back, in situations like this, that they get overhyped… it means more to them,” Carroll admitted. It’s a reminder that while talent and toughness are obvious, composure might be the biggest test.
If Chinn is able to harness the emotion of his return and deliver a strong performance, the Raiders could leave Washington with a significant victory. However, if he presses, the night could quickly fall apart.
One thing is clear: Jeremy Chinn is more than just a name on the depth chart. He is emerging as one of Carroll’s most trusted assets—and Sunday could be the moment he truly makes his mark.
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*Top Photo: DJ Cabanlong