Raiders release veteran LB Germaine Pratt after not making trip to Indianapolis for Week 5 game

Carroll explained Pratt’s absence as a matter of preference, telling reporters following Sunday’s blowout loss to the Colts that they “just decided to go with the other guys,” per the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Pratt’s release raises questions about the current state of the Raiders under Carroll, a coach known for building a positive culture in a locker room and drumming up optimism, no matter the challenges that lay ahead. Instead of turning the Silver and Black into an excited, hopeful bunch, Carroll’s guidance has led to four straight losses, with three coming by double digits. The vibes are bad right now, which is an especially notable admission for a club that trudged through the coaching tenures of Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce before arriving at this stage.

Perhaps their Week 4 defeat — a 25-24 loss to Chicago in a game the Raiders appeared well positioned to win before allowing Caleb Williams to drive the Bears to a game-winning touchdown — tipped the scales and motivated Carroll to send a wake-up call to his players by releasing Pratt. It’s also possible Pratt was disengaged and no longer had a spot with the Raiders in a move deemed addition by subtraction.

Whatever the reasoning, it’s painfully obvious the Raiders are in a dark place right now. The excitement generated by the acquisition of Geno Smith and Carroll’s arrival has dissipated and isn’t enough to lift the Raiders out of their funk.

Cutting Pratt likely won’t be enough, either. But Carroll is sending a message with this move: The current state of affairs is unacceptable.