ALAMEDA, Calif. – Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera almost doubled his season catch output in Week 8, when he had seven receptions in a loss to Cleveland.

Rivera now has 20 receptions in 2014. He started this season slow after a solid, 38-catch rookie campaign. Still, Oakland interim coach Tony Sparano said that Rivera's performance wasn't an indicator of anything besides the Raiders' gameplan.

“I think a tight end’s job is a little bit difficult because of the releases and the different type of release patterns that they could have during the course of the game and how people play them,” Sparano said. “Some days, the tight end is going to be much more involved than others, and it’s largely predicated on coverage at times. Mike, in the ballgame the other day, he took advantage of the two-minute situation and obviously, made some plays in the middle of the field early in the game, and made some great catches, which that always helps, too. When you get targeted and you have to make a great catch and you do, all of a sudden you’re productive. I think he did that last week. I think Mychal will continue to get better and better.”

Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Olson agreed.

“I think Mychal is a young player that is still getting better,” Olson said. “A lot of high expectations for him, you try to remember that he’s a developing player. He wasn’t a ready-made player when he got here. I think last year as a rookie, he got better during the season as a rookie. I think he had a good offseason. By no means right now is he a guy that’s anywhere near where he is going to be in this league.”