The Oakland Raiders have played five games, and during those five games, six different wide receivers have earned a start on Jon Gruden's offense.
To put it another way, Derek Carr has already completed passes to 13 players in 2019, compared to 17 all of last season, and only three of the wide receivers currently active were on the team's initial 53-man roster following the conclusion of the preseason.
With a bevy of injuries to Tyrell Williams and Dwayne Harris among others, the Silver and Black's receiving corps has seemingly changed from week to week, and there hasn't been much consistency – if any – for Derek Carr to find out wide.
"I think the most stability I had was when we had Seth [Roberts], Amari [Cooper] and 'Crab' [Michael Crabtree] two years, and that was pretty fun, but it is what it is, man," said Carr. "At the end of the day, no one cares in this league. You have to go out and perform football games, and that's number one… To be honest with you, it's kind of exciting. I love the challenge. I wish it wasn't the case, but I do like the challenge, because no one expected us in Indy or against Chicago to be able to throw the ball, or do anything, and we were able to go out there and play some good football. It is a fun challenge."
As Carr said, even without the benefit of a constant set of wide receivers, the Raiders' starting quarterback has played a quality brand of football as of late; he hasn't thrown an interception since Week 3, and over the past two weeks, he's completed nearly 73 percent of his passes.
And while No. 4 deserves a ton of credit for keeping the offense a float while throwing to different guys each week, credit is also due to the team's wide receivers for getting themselves ready to go come game day.
"We've seen a lot of faces come in, but we've all adapted and got used to the guys, welcomed everybody in," said Marcell Ateman, who has spent time on the practice squad, off the roster, and on the 53. "And for me, when I get called up, it's nothing new, because I've done it before. I just go out there and execute my plays, the game plan, and just do what I have to do."
Through the ebbs and flows of the still-developing 2019 campaign, the Silver and Black have no had no shortage of challenges thrown their way, but with a quality offensive output in London against the Bears and their stacked defense, Ateman thinks that type of game can give the group confidence headed into Lambeau Field.
"With the coaches, they game plan as well as anyone against any defense, any scheme," he explained. "They prepare us for any situation. It's just up to us to go out and compete and execute whatever's being called, and just because of the names on the defense, that don't mean nothing. You just go out there and look forward to it. You take advantage of whatever opportunity you get."
With Tyrell Williams' status for Sunday's game still up in the air, the wide receiving corps that goes to work against the Green Bay Packers will likely look different once again, but regardless of who lines up out wide, Carr will get to work, just as he has all season.
Take a look at photos from Alameda, Calif. at Raiders Headquarters as the team preps for their Week 7 game against the Green Bay Packers.
Raiders helmets on the field during practice.
Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) stands on the field during practice.
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) stands on the field during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) talks with wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett during practice.
Raiders defensive end Kendall Donnerson (54) warms up during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Keelan Doss (18) on the field during practice.
Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) warms up during practice.
Raiders linebacker Quentin Poling (53) warms up during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field during practice.
Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden talks with defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) during practice.
Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) warms up during practice.
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) on the field during practice.
Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden stands on the field during practice.
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field during practice.
Raiders quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) passes during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during practice.
Raiders offensive lineman Andre James (68) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders center Rodney Hudson (61) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders tackle David Sharpe (72) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders tackle David Sharpe (72) and guard Gabe Jackson (66) go through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) stands on the field during practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders running back DeAndré Washington (33) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Trevor Davis (11) goes up for a catch during practice.
Raiders tight end Eric Saubert (86) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) on the field during practice.
Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) goes up for a catch during practice.
Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders defensive end Kendall Donnerson (54) talks with Head Coach Jon Gruden during practice.
Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) goes through offensive drills during practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs a route on the field during practice.
Raiders defensive end Kendall Donnerson (54) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders quarterback Mike Glennon (7) hands the ball off to running back Jalen Richard (30) during practice.
Raiders quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) hands the ball off to running back James Butler (36) during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands the ball off to running back DeAndré Washington (33) during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands the ball off to running back Josh Jacobs (28) during practice.
Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes during practice.
Raiders running back DeAndré Washington (33) rushes during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams (19) goes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Trevor Davis (11) makes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver/return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) goes for a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Keelan Doss (18) goes for a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Rico Gafford (10) goes a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) goes for a catch during practice.
Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) goes a catch during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during practice.
Raiders cornerback Nick Nelson (23) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders safety Curtis Riley (35) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders defensive end Benson Mayowa (91) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) and defensive tackle Anthony Rush (60) go through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders defensive tackle Corey Liuget (94) goes through defensive drills during practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands the ball off to running back Jalen Richard (30) during practice.
Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) blocks during practice.
Raiders punter A.J. Cole (6) punts during practice.
Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley (21) on the field during practice.
Raiders linebackers coach David Lippincott talks with linebacker Justin Phillips (56) during practice.
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) and long snapper Trent Sieg (47) on the field during practice.
Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) blocks during practice.
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a field goal during practice.
Raiders punter A.J. Cole (6) receives the snap during practice.
Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) defends during practice.
Raiders wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett talks with wide receiver Trevor Davis (11), wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13), wide receiver Zay Jones (12) and wide receiver Trevor Davis (11) during practice.
Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson talks with running back Josh Jacobs (28) and fullback Alec Ingold (45) during practice.
Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner (29) runs after making an interception during practice.
Raiders quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) hands the ball off to running back James Butler (36) during practice.
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a field goal during practice.
"I think we all do wish there was stability, and we had our set guys for the next 10 years, and hopefully we do have them right now," Carr explained. "Hopefully these guys are it. I know they hope so. I know I hope so, and time will tell, but it's been a roller coaster of guys who we've had here, and not here, then back here, and then not here again, so I just go with the flow. I'm just here to control what I can control and do my job."
