The Las Vegas Raiders will have a difficult task for the remainder of the season with their second-leading tackler done for the year.
The Silver and Black’s defense did not just lose a starter this week. They lost one of the few defenders whose impact was both measurable on film and unmistakable to anyone within earshot of the field. Jeremy Chinn going on injured reserve is more than a lineup adjustment; it is a structural blow to a defense already struggling to hold itself together. Oh, and that’s putting it nicely considering how the season has gone.
The Raiders defense has been a disaster even with Jeremy Chinn
In a season defined by missed tackles, miscommunication and long Sundays of questionable football, Chinn was one of the rare constants who played with urgency, violence and purpose. Even though we’re in the final stretch, losing him could have a domino effect.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham made that clear.
His description of Chinn’s value was not flowery, nor was it padded with lingo. It was blunt: toughness, leadership, professionalism and production. Chinn was not simply a tackler—he was an impact tackler, the type whose hits change drives, set tones and send messages. When Graham says, “You can hear it out there,” that is not hyperbole. The Raiders have been short on players whose presence is felt physically, and Chinn provided exactly that.
Now Las Vegas must navigate the rest of the season without him, which leads to the real question: who fills the void? Graham said the staff will sort it out during the week, but there is no one-for-one replacement on this roster. The Raiders can shuffle personnel, but they cannot replicate the instincts, range and accountability Chinn provided. They may have “guys ready to go,” as Graham said, but readiness and reliability are entirely different challenges.
You can’t replace Chinn at this juncture…
If there is a model to point to, Graham offered it: Maxx Crosby. His chase-down effort, his relentlessness, and his 365-day commitment—that is the standard. But it is also part of the problem. Las Vegas keeps leaning on the same handful of players to carry a defense that lacks depth, cohesion and sustained performance. Crosby’s motor can inspire, but it cannot mask systemic issues forever.
Chinn’s absence magnifies every flaw the Raiders have spent months insisting they can overcome. It forces younger players into bigger roles, tests Graham’s schematic adaptability and challenges the locker room to maintain a level of professionalism that Chinn embodied. The Raiders insist they are prepared for Sunday. The tougher test will be every Sunday after that.
If the Raiders cannot recreate what Chinn brought, the season’s final stretch will feel much longer—yes, that’s indeed possible, Raider Nation.
*Top Photo: Getty Images