The Las Vegas Raiders’ leadership
group, including quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end Maxx
Crosby, reportedly held a players-only meeting after Sunday’s loss to
the Tennessee Titans, which dropped the team’s record to 0-3.

Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network
reported Wednesday the Raiders are “taking stock” in their
sluggish start and trying to figure out how to turn the season around
before it’s too late.

“It’s complicated,” multiple
sources told Wilson.

Las Vegas reached the playoffs with a
10-7 record last season before getting knocked out in the wild-card
round by the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.

Thus, expectations were high following an
offseason in which the team hired Josh McDaniels as its new head coach
and made a blockbuster trade for longtime Green Bay Packers wide
receiver Davante Adams.

Things haven’t clicked out of the gate,
however, and the margin for error is already getting thin since the
Raiders play in the loaded AFC West.

Team sources described the offensive
line as a “mess” and also singled out the linebackers and
secondary as areas of the roster not playing up to the necessary
standard, per Wilson.

Carr has been sacked seven times in
three games, while the team’s defense has forced just two turnovers so far.

One source told Wilson they remained
confident the Raiders are going to flip the script.

“This is an adjustment period,” the
source said. “Josh is showing people how he wants things done. Rome
wasn’t built in a day. When they have success, once they start
winning, people are going to jump on the bandwagon. Watch and see.”

While Vegas has star power on both
sides of the ball, led by Carr, Adams, Crosby and tight end Darren
Waller, the schedule doesn’t do the team any favors as it attempts to
break out of the early slump, with games against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs coming up next.

Things do get a little more favorable
after their Week 6 bye, but it took an 11-5 record to reach the playoffs
in 2020 and a 9-7-1 mark last year, so each passing loss reduces the
wiggle room.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the
players-only meeting has any tangible impact when the Raiders return
to action Sunday against the 2-1 Broncos.