Raiders report: Tight end placed on non-football injury list

The Raiders will be without tight end Michael Mayer for at least four more games.

The second-year player from Notre Dame, who has missed the past two games for personal reasons, was placed on the non-football injury list Friday, meaning he has to miss a minimum of four games. The move frees up a roster spot for the Raiders.

The Raiders have not revealed much about Mayer’s situation other than coach Antonio Pierce describing it as a “personal” issue.

Teams are not obligated to pay players while they are on the NFI list, but the Raiders are expected to continue to pay Mayer during his absence.

There is optimism within the club that Mayer will return to the club this season.

Raiders appear healthier

Defensive end Maxx Crosby, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, running back Zamir White and rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson were back at practice Friday.

All four have a chance to play in Sunday’s game against the Steelers at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders list Meyers, White and Powers-Johnson as questionable. Crosby was listed as limited in practice.

Crosby, who has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but appeared to be moving around well during the open period of Friday’s workout. He played in the Raiders’ 34-18 road loss to the Broncos on Sunday, and the expectation is he will play against the Steelers.

Meyers, who has become the Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver with Davante Adams out with a hamstring injury and on the trading block, has an ankle injury.

White, who leads the team in rushing attempts (49) and rushing yards (152), missed the Broncos game with a groin injury.

Powers-Johnson has a knee injury. Another offensive lineman, starting right tackle Thayer Munford Jr., who has missed the past two games with knee and ankle injuries, also is listed as questionable but is trending toward playing against the Steelers.

Focus on tackling

The Raiders emphasized creating takeaways throughout training camp. But the defense has forced only two in the first five games — both interceptions — and the focus on takeaways might explain its poor tackling.

Defenders are trying to punch the ball out of the arms of ball carriers, which sometimes detracts from the actual tackling. As a result, the Raiders have missed an NFL-high 66 tackles.

Coach Antonio Pierce said Friday the focus now is to prioritize the tackle, then try to force a turnover. He instructed his assistants to begin this week’s practices with tackling drills.

“I thought we did a good job in training camp, really working on those fundamentals, but they started to creep up,” Pierce said.

Pierce also said the Raiders just have to be more willing tacklers.

“I always say tackling is a want to. Either you want to do it or you don’t,” he said. “You want to get dirty or you don’t. You want to have the aches and pains or you don’t, and we’ve just got to have that mindset that we know we need to take some Advil before and after the game because it’s going to hurt.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.