The Silver and Black will be getting some much-needed rest after going 3-2 throughout their first five games going into their bye week.
It comes at a convenient time, as they come off a crucial 40-32 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders will also have time to get guys healthy and back on the field after being plagued by early season injuries.
Coach Gruden usually isn't in favor of bye weeks considering the momentum they can potentially take away from a team. He feels that this however may be a rare occasion where the bye week can be beneficial to his team.
"I like to keep playing," said Coach Gruden Monday to the media. "I like to play doubleheaders, sometimes. But, it is part of the schedule, as you know. So, in some ways it will get Trent Brown an additional couple days to respond to his first game. We're hoping Richie Incognito can come back, obviously Maurice Hurst, Maliek Collins, Damon Arnette, Bryan Edwards. We got a lot of guys that are still on the mend. So, I'll take this bye week this year at this time."
The defensive secondary unit are at pace to be back to full strength coming out of the bye week. Johnathan Abram (shoulder), Lamarcus Joyner (ribs) and Nevin Lawson (ankle) have been playing banged up this season, along with rookie cornerback Damon Arnette who was placed on injury reserve after re-aggravating his thumb injury he sustained in training camp.
Defensive Backs Coach Jim O'Neil has loved the toughness and grit his secondary has shown so far this season and is anxious to see them get closer to being at full force.
"We look for tough guys that love to play," said Coach O'Neil on the mold of his secondary unit. "Some of those guys you're going to have to put them in straightjackets to keep them out of the game. They all want to be out there, they all are super competitive and we appreciate it. Anytime a guy puts his body on the line, if he's nicked up or he's injured, and he goes out there and finishes and tries to play, I think that's impressive."
Another player who's been playing banged up that's imperative to the success of the Raiders is star running back Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs is currently second in the league in rushing yards and leads the league in carries.
While Jacobs has been dealing with a lingering hip injury throughout the year, the Raiders offense is looking to get backup running back Devontae Booker more involved moving forward to keep No. 28 healthy. Booker has also been productive with the carries he's seen this season, running for 62 yards on seven carries in the win against the Chiefs.
"We knew all along we got a player who complemented our room extremely well," said Running Backs Coach Kirby Wilson of Booker. "We just had to figure out a way of, how do we implement him by at the same time keeping our best football player getting most of the work."
"We think we're on a really good pace right now to do that moving forward — it just took a little while to figure out as the positions coach."
If the Raiders can continue to get guys healthy and back on their feet during the bye week, they will definitely be trending upward moving forward the rest of the season.
Check out the Las Vegas Raiders' photo department's favorite images of the Silver and Black from September of the 2020 season.
A Las Vegas Raiders football on the field during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) and cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) and tight end Darren Waller (83) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) and punter AJ Cole (6) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) and defensive end Carl Nassib (94) during practice.
Lady Liberty stands wearing a Las Vegas Raiders jersey at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) receivers a custom Vegas Golden Knights jersey during practice.
A view of Bank of America Stadium before the Las Vegas Raiders regular season away game against the Carolina Panthers.
The Las Vegas Raiders try to block a kick during the regular season away game against the Carolina Panthers.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) celebrates after making a 23-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Carolina Panthers.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) celebrates after making a stop during the regular season away game against the Carolina Panthers.
The Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium.
The Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73), defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90), defensive end Arden Key (99) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Daniel Ross (93) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders players and coaches huddle during practice.
An outside view of Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and fullback Alec Ingold (45) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs huddle during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant field manager Sergio Nunez paints the NFL logo on the field in preparation for the Las Vegas Raiders' inaugural home opener at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant field manager McCade Lynch paints the field in preparation for the Las Vegas Raiders' inaugural home opener at Allegiant Stadium.
The Al Davis Memorial Torch at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks down the tunnel before the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders center Rodney Hudson (61) warming up before the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) and defensive end Carl Nassib (94) warming up before the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) rushes as wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) blocks during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle up during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) kicks the ball off during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) stiff arms the defender during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) makes a 1-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Las Vegas Raiders during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for a receiver during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) celebrates after rushing for a 20-yard touchdown during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) kicks a 54-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith (72) on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during practice.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) walks down the tunnel before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) warming up before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders guard John Simpson (76) warming up before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) warming up before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) walks down the tunnel before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) warming up before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks down the tunnel before the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrates after sacking the quarterback during the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the New England Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders and coaches on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith (92) on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for a walkthrough.
A Las Vegas Raiders helmet on the field for a walkthrough.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) on the field for a walkthrough.
