Who would’ve thought, after being released twice in the same year (April 2025 – Seahawks and October 2025 – Titans), a veteran wide receiver would find his way back to a familiar setup…teaming up with quarterback Geno Smith in the Las Vegas Raiders, who used to be his go-to target back in their Seattle days. To make things even better, he has “locked it” with head coach Pete Carroll, the man who guided him through his prime years with the Seahawks. He has now expressed how he felt after his mid-season arrival to his new regiment.

“Thankful!!!! You get all the glory God!!!! Raider Nation!! Let’s get it!!!!,” Tyler Lockett posted on his official Instagram. Lockett didn’t have a fruitful outing with the Tennessee Titans after the franchise signed him for a 1-year deal. He could manage just 10 passes for 70 yards for 7 games and 180 snaps. But now he is excited to contribute to his former QB-HC duo like he did in the past.

When Geno Smith was running the offense in Seattle from 2022 to 2024, Lockett was one of his most trusted targets,5 racking up 212 passes for 2,527 yards and 16 touchdowns in 50 games. During that stretch, he averaged an impressive catch rate of 67.6%, proving just how reliable that Smith-Lockett connection was.

“We grew so much, just being able to play. We went through different coordinators, learned different systems, understood how to adjust our game, but still being able to build. And so it’s been pretty fun just to be able to come back, kind of trying to pick up where we (left) off,” Tyler Lockett said. That being said, the 33-year-old veteran’s entry to the offense couldn’t have come in at a better time.

The Raiders are at the bottom of the AFC West division, sitting on a 2-5 record. The team averages about 6.7 yards per rush attempt, but below the league’s average. On top of that, Las Vegas has just managed six rushing touchdowns this season, which implies Lockett can be a difference-maker.

Tom Brady might’ve found a way for his struggling Raiders

Tom Brady might only own a 5% minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, but his concerns definitely feel a lot bigger than that. The team’s offense has been struggling, ranking near the bottom of the league. It ranks 27th in both passing as well as rushing yards per game. What’s more worrying here is their 31st position of the 32 franchises in points per game. But the problems just don’t end there.

Quarterback Geno Smith is leading the charge through the air, but he’s been battling shaky protection and a thin group of potential targets for most of the season. The recent addition of Veterans like Lockett is expected to finally bring some stability and spark to the passing game.

Since entering the league, Lockett has quietly built one of the most impressive resumes among active receivers. He ranks 12th in receptions (671), 11th in receiving yards (8,884), and 9th in receiving touchdowns (61). Among players with 600+ catches since 2015, his 12.9 yards per reception ranks 6th in the league. He has been nothing short of a deep ball threat and model of consistency.

His 57 grabs of 30+ yards landed him the 8th spot in the league, and now it’s time to see if that production can spark something in Vegas. Coming off their bye week, the Raiders return to action on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This match could be a turning point for Pete Carroll, as he doesn’t want to end up like Brian Callahan, the former coach of his new free agent wideout from Tennessee, who got waived mid-season.