The Raiders’ quarterback picture got a little more interesting at camp on Saturday, when former Hoosier Fernando Mendoza worked with the first team. That doesn’t mean he’s suddenly climbed to the top of the depth chart, though. Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby were both kept out of practice for disciplinary reasons after a fight on Friday, and that opened the door for Mendoza’s reps.
Mendoza isn’t the only former Indiana player trying to carve out a role in Las Vegas. Ian Thomas, E.J. Williams and Roman Hemby are also in Raiders camp, with the team set to open its first preseason game on Aug. 13 in Las Vegas against Arizona.
In Pittsburgh, Riley Nowakowski is lining up in a spot that could keep him around. He’s the only fullback currently on the Steelers’ depth chart, and he’s also getting work with the tight ends.
With new head coach Mike McCarthy, that usage makes sense - McCarthy has always leaned on a fullback before. Nowakowski looks to have a real path to the roster, and if he sticks, he’d do it alongside Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback he grew up watching in Wisconsin.
Zach Horton’s path has already had a quick twist in Detroit. The tight end was released a couple of weeks ago, then brought back this past week after the Lions waived him when they signed Anthony Firkser. Firkser then got hurt, and Horton was back in the mix.
Two other former Hoosiers have been slowed by injuries this week. Kaelon Black of the 49ers missed practice with an adductor injury, while D’Angelo Ponds of the Jets was sidelined by a calf strain.
Altogether, 27 former Hoosiers were with NFL franchises at the start of training camp, and they’re all fighting for jobs as the preseason approaches.
In Other News...
Indiana Defense Just Got A Quiet Boost Fans Did Not Expect
A ruling tied to college footballs changing eligibility landscape is giving Indiana a late defensive boost heading into 2026. The NCAAs new age-based five-in-five rule had initially left the class of 2022 in limbo, setting off lawsuits before a federal judge cleared those former high school athletes who had run out of eligibility for a fifth season.
For the Hoosiers, the practical effect is simple: two injured defenders are back in the fold, and the defense suddenly looks deeper because of it. Indiana has been able to bring back Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, a welcome development for a unit that can use every available body as it prepares for the next season. [Read more 🡒]
Charlie Becker Became The Indiana Weapon Fans Never Saw Coming
Charlie Becker spent two years in the kind of role that rarely draws much attention, working as a backup wide receiver and contributing on special teams before his chance on offense finally arrived. When a starting receiver went down, Indiana had to lean on a player who had already built a reputation for being ready to do a little bit of everything, and Becker has since turned that opportunity into a much larger part of the offense.
What has made his rise so notable is how quickly he has gone from depth piece to one of the programs most important playmakers, with his work showing up in major games and earning him preseason All-American recognition. The larger question now is how Indiana keeps folding him into the attack, because the preparation that made him useful in the first place has only made the next step more intriguing. [Read more 🡒]