Raiders place offensive veteran on IR after further testing revealed 'bad news'

Who will play in Kolton Miller's place?

Pete Carroll said Monday the Raiders would turn to Stone Forsythe, one of the new HC’s former Seahawks charges, if Miller missed time. The Raiders will go from a 111-start player to one whom the Giants waived upon moving their roster to 53 players last month. The Raiders quickly scooped up Forsythe for their 16-man practice squad and have used him as a backup in four games thus far.

Miller, 30, went down shortly before the Raiders’ game-winning field-goal attempt against the Bears. He played 17 games last season, and the Raiders’ solution when Miller went down in 2023 is no longer rostered. Both Justin Herron and Jermaine Eluemunor, each an ex-Patriot brought in during Josh McDaniels‘ short HC stint, started in place of Miller in 2023. Forsythe represents one option, with Carroll adding rookie Charles Grant could push for playing time. The third-round pick out of Division I-FCS, however, has been inactive all season.

The Raiders used two Day 2 picks on O-linemen last year — Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze — and doubled down to start the Carroll-John Spytek–Tom Brady era by drafting Caleb Rogers and Grant at Nos. 98 and 99. Neither rookie blocker has been active this season. Grant comes from William & Mary, and the team gave him work at both tackle spots during his first NFL offseason. Glaze sits as the Raiders’ RT starter, while Rogers is another backup option.

This could certainly be a big loss for Vegas, as Miller is one of the NFL’s better tackles. Through four games, Pro Football Focus ranks the 6-foot-8 blocker fourth among all tackles. ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric slots Miller ninth this season. PFF graded Miller as a top-15 tackle in each of the previous four seasons. A former Seahawks fourth-rounder, Forsythe has made 14 career starts. He logged 213 left tackle snaps in 2023, but all of his 2024 action came on the right side.