Las Vegas (KSNV) — The Raiders could have made their offensive line more of a priority when assembling their roster for this season, but they focused more of their efforts elsewhere.

Now, Las Vegas is paying the price.

The line has kept kept Geno Smith under constant duress and prevented rookie running back Ashton Jeanty from displaying the magic he exhibited last season at Boise State, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

One potential change could be on the way. Or, at least, a return to the season-opening lineup.

Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has not played since the opener because of a concussion, will have the chance to win back his starting right guard position from Alex Cappa.

“In all phases of it, we got to get off the football better and make more of the running game,” Carroll said. “There’s not enough happening there to act on the play-(action) pass game. So we just got to keep working it. We got the guys we got, and we need to keep developing and keep building on it.”

Smith was sacked five times in Sunday’s 41-24 loss at Washington — and it could’ve been a lot more. He was hit on eight other plays, but still found a way to throw for 289 yards and three touchdowns. The Raiders have given up 12 sacks this season, tied with two other teams for second worst.

Jeanty had his best game as a Raider with 63 yards on 17 carries. According to ESPN, he was hit behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of those handoffs.

He hasn’t found much running room three games into his career, having gained 144 yards with a 3.1 yards-per-carry average. The Raiders as a team rank 30th with 3.06 yards per rush.

“I think the running back’s going to be a real player,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “He’s got quickness, he can break tackles and so going into it, you can see why he’s as talented as he is.”

The Raiders were questioned for drafting Jeanty sixth overall this year, not so much because of any concerns about his talent, but because running back has become a devalued position.

Given the early results, Las Vegas might have gotten more production if it had made an offensive lineman more of a draft priority while still picking up a running back in the later rounds.

The Raiders instead drafted two linemen in the third round who Carroll said aren’t ready to play, though that day is coming.

They also signed Cappa, a 30-year-old who appears past his prime. Pro Football Focus rates him 56th among 88 guards.

“So, we have what we have, and we got to make our guys do better,” Carroll said. “We got to fit it together better than we have.”

What’s working

The Raiders have at least one takeaway in each game, the first time they have done that through the first three weeks of a season since 2016, when they forced turnovers in their first five games.

What needs help

The Raiders entered the season with questions about their young cornerbacks, and it’s often been a struggle. Las Vegas is 24th in allowing 237 yards passing per game and 27th in giving up 7.56 per play.

Stock up

Third-year pro Tre Tucker has in practice looked more like a complete wide receiver than a simple speedster who goes deep. He showed off his abilities against the Commanders, setting career highs with eight catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. One of the TDs came on a 61-yard reception where Tucker used his speed to get open for a deep pass over the middle.

Stock down

Special teams were a mess. The Commanders opened the game with a 69-yard kickoff return to set up a quick touchdown. They later returned a punt 90 yards to the end zone. On top of that, the Raiders misplayed two kickoff returns on their end.

Injuries

TE Michael Mayer is in the concussion protocol, but Carroll said he was hopeful of a return soon.

Key number

50 — The Raiders were the first team to give up plays of 50 or more yards on a kickoff return, a punt return and a run in the same game since Dec. 12, 1999, when the expansion Cleveland Browns allowed those gains by Cincinnati. Atlanta gave up those plays to Philadelphia in 1996 and Buffalo to Miami in 1976, the only other instances over the past half-century.

Next steps

The Raiders the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Indiana Fever (24-20, 13-8 Eastern Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (30-14, 16-8 Western Conference)

Las Vegas; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Aces -9.5; over/under is 166

WNBA PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS: Fever lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Indiana Fever visit the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA playoffs semifinals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Fever won the last meeting 89-73 on Sept. 21 led by 34 points from Kelsey Mitchell, while Jackie Young scored 19 points for the Aces.

The Aces have gone 17-5 in home games. Las Vegas ranks seventh in the WNBA with 25.4 defensive rebounds per game led by A’ja Wilson averaging 9.0.

The Fever have gone 11-11 away from home. Indiana is third in the Eastern Conference with 8.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Aliyah Boston averaging 2.4.

Las Vegas averages 9.1 made 3-pointers per game, 2.0 more made shots than the 7.1 per game Indiana gives up. Indiana averages 84.9 points per game, 4.2 more than the 80.7 Las Vegas allows to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is scoring 23.4 points per game with 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Aces. Young is averaging 18 points, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals over the past 10 games.

Boston is averaging 15 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Fever. Mitchell is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: 8-2, averaging 86.4 points, 31.2 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.3 points per game.

Fever: 7-3, averaging 81.3 points, 33.4 rebounds, 20.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.7 points.

INJURIES: Aces: None listed.

Fever: Sydney Colson: out for season (knee), Chloe Bibby: out for season (knee), Caitlin Clark: out for season (groin), Sophie Cunningham: out for season (knee), Aari McDonald: out for season (foot).

Ramon Villela kicked a 23-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to lift UNLV to a 41-38 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday.

A dropped snap on a 58-yard field goal attempt foiled Miami’s attempt to tie and the Rebels intercepted the desperation heave has time ran out.

UNLV (4-0) was down 24-10 at halftime but opened the second half with a pair of long drives to tie the game. Then Keith Reynolds had a 100-yard kickoff return straight up field untouched on the right harshmarks to put the RedHawks (0-3) back on top. Two snaps later Corban Hondru snagged a tipped Anthony Colandrea pass and went 47 yards to make it 38-24. It was the second interception thrown by Colandrea, who threw for 293 yards and two scores, marking the first time UNLV had more than one turnover in 18 games.

Miami had only three offensive snaps in the third quarter. Colandrea then directed a 17-play, 87-yard drive that stretched into the fourth quarter, finishing with a 9-yard pass to Taeshaun Lyons. Following a shanked punt, the Rebels went 49 yards, tying the game on a 1-yard run by Keyvone Lee with 6:50 left.

Miami reached the red zone on a 21-yard run by Kenny Tracy but Jaheem Joseph punched the ball out on the tackle and Marsel McDuffie recovered for the Rebels on their 17 with 2:31 to play. UNLV covered 78 yards on nine plays for the winning field goal.

Aamaris Brown had a 67-yard pick-six for UNLV’s only score in the first half and Miami quarterback Dequan Finn did not return after that turnover early in the second quarter. Finn threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns and Henry Hesson threw for 134 and a score.