The Raiders’ first 53-man roster of 2026 already tells a story, and it’s not just about who made the team. After Sunday evening’s cutdown deadline, Las Vegas had to trim the roster down, and with nearly 40 transactions in the mix, a few names clearly came out better than others.
Some players turned quiet camps into real momentum. Others got news that was a lot harder to digest. And a few were left in a strange middle ground, technically on the roster but still staring at an uncertain road ahead.
Patrick Johnson belongs in the first group. Signed before training camp, he didn’t arrive with much noise, but he made himself impossible to ignore once the work started. He stood out on defense and on special teams, and he earned his spot without question.
The same kind of approval went to Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. The Raiders choosing to keep only three running backs says plenty about how they view that room, and it also hints that Jeanty’s ankle injury is not expected to linger deep into the season, if it does at all. Either way, Las Vegas clearly believes it can get by with a small group if the right players are in place.
Foley Fatukasi also made a strong impression in a hurry. He didn’t need a full preseason to convince the team, and two preseason games were enough for him to force the issue. Making the initial 53 after that kind of short ramp-up is a big rise in a short amount of time.
Then there’s Aidan O’Connell, who was at least part of the trade chatter this preseason and, at times, looked like a possible cut. Instead, he held onto his place and remains with the Raiders for now. For the first time, though, the hope is simple: Las Vegas doesn’t end up needing him this year.
At linebacker, Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg - “The Bergs” - found themselves in a particularly meaningful spot. They’re the only two linebackers on the roster behind Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, which puts them next in line if injuries become an issue. That’s a notable show of trust from the staff and front office.
Kicker Matt Gay and long snapper Alex Ward also won their battles. They came out ahead of Kansei Matsuzawa and Tyler Duzansky, and for now they’re the ones responsible for handling those jobs in Las Vegas. It was a straight-up competition, and they were the winners.
Not everyone had the same kind of day.
Keyron Crawford’s preseason finale ended with an injury, and the roster move that followed was even worse: he landed on season-ending IR. For a rookie who needed every possible rep, that’s a brutal turn.
Atonio Mafi is technically on the initial roster, but that status feels temporary. He looks like the first name in line when the Raiders need a move, and a return to the practice squad seems likely. For now, though, he’s in an awkward spot.
J.J. Pegues also took a hit in a different way.
He did make the 53, but Fatukasi’s quick arrival changes the picture in that defensive tackle room. Pegues still has a roster spot, but the bigger question is whether he gets the kind of role he wants.
Fatukasi makes that harder.
And for the players who were waived or released, the disappointment is obvious even if they don’t belong in the same bucket as the more permanent losers. They put in the work all offseason, and getting cut is a rough outcome. They’re not losers as people or players, but the situation is not what they were chasing.
In Other News...
Raiders Made A Few Telling Calls On Their First 53-Man Roster
The Raiders settled on their initial 53-man roster with the kind of choices that usually tell you as much about the teams thinking as the depth chart itself. One of the clearest moves came with the trade of offensive lineman Jordan Meredith to the Jets, while the rest of the roster took shape across the usual position groups, including three quarterbacks, four running backs or fullbacks, and six wide receivers.
It is still only the first version of the roster, and Las Vegas already has some players on injured reserve as it turns its attention to Week One against the Dolphins. As always around cutdown day, the list is less a finished product than a snapshot, and the Raiders may still be active on the waiver wire as they try to fine-tune the group that will open the season. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Defense Just Got A New Name To Watch Up Front
After roster cutdown day, the Raiders initial 53-man group brought a clearer look at where the defensive front is headed, and second-year tackle Tonka Hemingway is suddenly right in the middle of it. What started as a promising camp battle turned into a real opportunity, with Hemingway flashing the kind of pass-rush ability and athleticism that can change the shape of an interior line.
Hemingway has now landed as a full-time starter next to veteran Adam Butler, giving Las Vegas a different look inside heading into the 2026 season. For a defense that wants more disruption up front, his rise is one of the more interesting developments on the roster, especially after the way he handled both training camp and the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Sent A Clear Message On Ashton Jeantys Injury
Ashton Jeantys sprained ankle did not force the Raiders to back off their plans for him. Even after the injury, Las Vegas kept the rookie running back on its initial 53-man roster, a sign the team expects him back sometime within the first four games rather than shelving him right away.
The roster move also says plenty about how the Raiders view the backfield going into the season. By holding onto three running backs, including Jeanty, the team left itself with some flexibility while avoiding an immediate injured reserve move, and fantasy managers have largely responded the same way by keeping his draft stock in a relatively strong spot despite the setback. [Read more 🡒]