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Pete Carroll challenges rookie to step up in wake of injuries

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Derek Hegna | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 11:13 AM ET

On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders received devastating news surrounding left tackle Kolton Miller.

The injury he suffered at the end of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears turned out to be worse than initially anticipated. On top of the high-ankle sprain that initial reports highlighted, a CT scan found that Miller also suffered a hairline fracture in his ankle. This prompted the Raiders to put Miller on injured reserve, guaranteeing that he will miss the next four games.

The news puts an already challenging Raiders season in even more dire straits, but opportunity is abound for a player who has yet to truly receive a chance.

A Raiders rookie now has the impetus placed on him to earn his keep.

Head coach Pete Carroll has already said that veteran offensive tackle Stone Forsythe is the next man up at left tackle, but also said ‘this would be an opportunity’ for third-round rookie Charles Grant to make a push for the starting lineup.

Pete Carroll said that if Kolton Miller has to miss any action, Stone Forsythe would be next man up at left tackle.

However he acknowledged that “this would be an opportunity for Charles [Grant] to charge for it,” their third-round pick from William & Mary.#Raiders

— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) September 29, 2025

Forsythe getting the first crack makes sense due to his experience with Carroll, but his career trajectory so far does not inspire much confidence in him as a long-term answer.

Grant, on the other hand, struggled in both pass protection and run blocking when he saw the field in preseason. He did make the final 53-man roster, but he has yet to see the field in his rookie season. It makes sense for Grant to struggle with the transition from the FCS to the NFL, but an improved string of performances could put him in the conversation to receive playing time.

For the first time this season, the path is open for Grant to make his mark on the Raiders early on.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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