Michael Mayer is 'playing free' – and playing everywhere – for the Raiders

Oct 16, 2025 at 03:41 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?

Some of Joni Mitchell's most well-known lyrics feel like the perfect metaphor for Michael Mayer's presence this season.

There were times last year in which the tight end's role seemed undetermined. He was a highly coveted second-round pick in 2023, drafted with the purpose of replacing Pro Bowler Darren Waller as the team's starting tight end. A year later, the Raiders used their first-round pick on another promising tight end Brock Bowers.

Bowers would soon take the league by storm with a historic rookie season. Meanwhile, Mayer was used mostly in run blocking sets and missed time throughout the season for personal reasons.

As a new season and new coaching staff arrived to Las Vegas, Mayer flashed in Chip Kelly's offense as 12 and 13 personnel became more favorable packages with Mayer as a pass catcher. With Bowers demanding attention from defenses that are more familiar with him now, it was Mayer who evolved into a go-to target for Geno Smith.

Mayer caught four passes for 38 yards in the season-opening victory over the New England Patriots. Three of those four catches resulted in a first down for the Raiders offense.

"He showed us. He's shown us that through camp and all that," Pete Carroll said. "Mike's had a great run since we've been here. He's looked terrific. And when he and Brock are out there and Ian [Thomas] filling in, it's a great group."

While the Raiders locker room has remained confident in Mayer's abilities, what he brings to the table became glaring to casual fans starting in Week 3.

Going in for a tackle on special teams, he suffered a concussion that would keep him out for two games. While out of action, his impact was missed on offense. But surprisingly enough, not as much as it was on special teams.

Mayer typically lines up as a blocker on field goal and punt units, and his absence was felt on two major plays. Against the Chicago Bears, a potential game-winning 54-yard field goal was blocked by Josh Blackwell with less than a minute left in the game. The following week against the Indianapolis Colts, Segun Olubi came off the line of scrimmage untouched to block a punt.

Mayer's return back to the field against the Tennessee Titans couldn't have come at a better time, with Bowers out due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 1.

Stepping into the TE1 role last Sunday, Mayer delivered.

In the 20-10 victory over the Titans, he saw a team-high seven targets, catching five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mayer's touchdown was the lone passing touchdown for the Raiders on the day, and the tight end's first time in the end zone since his rookie season.

"It felt great, obviously first one since 2023," Mayer said Thursday afternoon. "It's been awhile, but it's an unbeatable feeling. It's a feeling I want to get a lot more times this season. ... Geno did a fantastic time finding me there, putting it behind me so it didn't lead me into traffic and I could fall right into the end zone."

"It was awesome to have Mike back," Smith said postgame. "As you can see, he played a phenomenal game. He's tough as crap, man. He plays so hard every single game. Him, Brock, and couple other guys that are my safety net. I feel good when those guys are in the game, and as you can see, they do a great job. They make us better."

As for special teams, he helped keep everything on track. Daniel Carlson went 2-of-2 on field goal attempts while Cole downed four punts inside the 20-yard line. The Titans offense started six of their drives inside their own 25-yard line.

"It felt really good to be back out there on punt and field goal, helping us get the ball off and anything we need special teams wise," Mayer said on Raiders Gameday. "It's all about leverage, number one. Number two, it's all about communication. And you got to do your job, you got to know what the heck you're doing and that's been a huge emphasis this year and this week, and it's going to be the following week too."

While Bowers is still working back from injury, Mayer is in place to continue being a focal point in the offense.

And even when the All-Pro returns, Mayer has proven he's more than capable to handle a bigger workload regardless.

"No matter what happens on that field, I feel I have value no matter what," Mayer said. "I have confidence in myself, but at the end of the day, you want to see it come to fruition. You want to see it out there on the field happening. And when you see it out on the field happening, you just build confidence from that.

"It just builds until you're out there playing free, you're just out there having fun. And I feel like that's the point I'm at right now. I'm having a lot of fun playing football and I'm just out there trying to enjoy myself, trying to help this team win as much as I can."

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.