Michael Mayer (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Raiders have one of their offensive playmakers back with the team after tight end Michael Mayer, who was the No. 35 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, finally made his return to practice.

He had been missing a month due to personal reasons.

Neither the Raiders nor Mayer disclosed the reason for his absence.

As a result, he was added to the non-football injury list in October and would remain there until this week’s return to practice.

Second-year tight end Michael Mayer last played in Week 3 and has missed seven games.

This week, he finally made his first comments about his absence.

“The No. 1 important rule is that football’s not bigger than life. It isn’t, and it never has been, at least for me. I just needed to figure some things out. That’s what I did, and I’m on my feet again,” Mayer said Wednesday ahead of the Raiders’ Week 11 road game against the Dolphins.

“I feel great. I’m sleeping well, I’m doing all the things that I need to be doing to set myself up for success and help the team to. Whatever they ask me to do these next eight, nine, 10 weeks left, I’m a do it for ’em.”

Assuming the tight end doesn’t require an extended ramp-up period, he should be ready to go for Sunday’s matchup with the Dolphins.

The team could desperately use him, as Las Vegas is currently 2-7 and last in the AFC West.

Michael Mayer added he’s doing “great” and thanked the organization and those around him for being there for him.

“They’ve been with me through the whole thing. I really appreciate that. I couldn’t ask for a better organization, a better support system, a better all that stuff,” Mayer said. “It was a personal matter, me and my family handled it behind closed doors, but I’m so thankful for this organization and I’m so thankful for the support they’ve shown me. I felt really happy and good out there today. I was happy to be back out there with (Brock Bowers), all the tight end boys and the whole offense. It’s been great.”

Raiders Had High Hopes For Michael Mayer to Have A Breakout Season In 2024

The last time we saw Raiders tight end Michael Mayer on the field was in Week 3 when the team lost to the Carolina Panthers.

In that matchup, he had one reception for seven yards.

Last season, he had 27 catches for 304 yards with two touchdowns in his rookie year.

The team had high hopes that he would be even better this year but personal reasons have kept him away from the team for seven games.

Michael Mayer has four receptions for 21 yards so far in 2024. Unless he goes crazy on the field, he will not exceed his rookie stats, and the team will have to take their hope to 225.

As of now, rookie first-round pick Brock Bowers has been the team’s No. 1 tight end, accumulating 57 receptions for 580 yards and two touchdowns.