Devin White was everywhere as the Las Vegas Raiders shocked the NFL with their win on Sunday. They would go on to beat the Tennessee Titans 20-10 at Allegiant Stadium. As for the Raiders, they made one of the biggest in-season turnarounds in league history. With White spearheading their defensive push, they ended a four-game skid. His impact went beyond his team-high nine tackles to a strip-sack that changed the game, two pressures and that interception at a pivotal moment.
White’s impact on the game was felt early when he forced a fumble that teammate Tyree Wilson recovered at the Titans’ 2-yard line. This early defensive play would set the tone for the Raiders on the day, giving them the opportunities to exploit their opponent’s mistakes. Further on in the game, White once again showed off his great anticipation and play reading ability. He picked off a pass that Garbers and Wilson had forced Wilson into throwing.
White has been an absolute sensation this season! In only six games, he’s tallied 48 tackles, five pressures and seven run stuffs, tied for most on the team. What’s more impressive, he closes on ground quickly damaging that has resulted in 17 receptions for 146 yards on 23 targets as the closest defender. This particular skill deepens his impact in run support as well as pass defense.
White’s road to this point wasn’t an easy one. That image After winning Super Bowl LV in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the former No. Together, these challenges forged his strength and perseverance. In his last season with Tampa, he posted 83 tackles. Injury and personal factors soon caught up to him as well, with the passing of his father in November 2022 affecting Wang deeply.
After his time with the Buccaneers, White moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sadly, he was cut after four games without playing a down. Even through the rejections, he displayed amazing resilience to push through and battle his own demons. He recalled, “There was so much going on in my mind… I was just gone.”
White proved himself to the Raiders’ coaching staff, showing the push and ambition they needed to see. Head Coach Pete Carroll noted, “I don’t know anybody could put up more numbers than Devin White did,” highlighting his outstanding performance.
After this most recent game, the discussion about Josh White’s continued candidacy in the league has resurfaced. He has previously mentioned his internal battle regarding his passion for football, saying, “I was unsure if I still cared about football due to personal and injury issues.” It was his true resilience that stood out most in this year’s contest against Tennessee.
Even his teammates seemed excited by White’s performance, with Tyree Wilson going on record with, “An emphasis this week was to impose your will. I felt like Devin did that.” This sentiment illuminates the ambition of the team’s collective drive to return to their classic competitive form after wrestling with consistency issues early in the season.
White’s gaudy numbers are indicative of a player on a remarkable revenge tour, looking to get back to being among the elite linebackers in football. Before his final season with Tampa Bay, he had tallied more than 120 tackles for three straight seasons. Now, back in a starting role with the Raiders, he seems intent on reminding people of what made him great in the first place.
Looking back on this unexpected comeback, White added, “When she told me that, that lit a fuse under me. Throwing in the towel? That ain’t me. The kid’s energy is infectious on the gridiron. He is quickly making himself known as one of the key players on the Raiders’ defensive unit.
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