Twelve days into Raiders training camp, the clearest story is still the one under center. Kirk Cousins handled every first-team rep again, and Fernando Mendoza’s strong preseason opener hasn’t changed the order. Head coach Klint Kubiak has made that much clear, and Cousins remains the centerpiece of the offense as Week 1 gets closer.
Cousins had his moments with the top unit. He hooked up with Tre Tucker on an out route, but he also felt pressure at times and got rid of the ball short.
The quarterback battle, though, does not appear to be much of a battle right now. That is still the biggest thread running through camp because it shapes everything about the offense.
The other headline-grabber on Day 12 was Maxx Crosby doing Maxx Crosby things. He drove rookie DJ Glaze back into Cousins’ lap to force a short throw, picked up a sack, knocked down a pass and blew up multiple run plays. It was another reminder of how disruptive he can be when he’s rolling, and exactly the kind of force the Raiders need setting the tone for the defense.
There was movement in the receiver group too, and Malik Benson kept pushing his way into the conversation. Working with the second team, he connected with Mendoza on a play that mirrored the Arizona preseason comeback route and then went up over cornerback Hezekia Masses for a deep-ball grab and a big gain.
With Dont’e Thornton Jr. still working back from injury, Benson has done enough in camp to look like more than just a body in the room. He’s making a real case for rotational snaps.
The cornerback depth chart is also starting to come into focus. Darien Porter took every CB2 rep opposite Eric Stokes with the starters, while Masses and Decamerion Richardson rotated with the second group and Jermod McCoy worked with the threes. That’s a more defined pecking order than camp has shown for much of the summer, and it’s one worth watching as roster cuts draw closer.
On the defensive front, the Raiders added some help this week. Las Vegas placed LB Brennan Jackson on injured reserve and signed veteran Foley Fatukasi to bring more experience up front. It may not be the flashiest set of moves, but after the preseason opener took a toll on the defensive line, the added bodies matter, especially with joint practices with Houston coming up.
Still, everything circles back to Cousins and Mendoza. The receiver rotation, the cornerback competition, the defensive line additions - they all matter. But the quarterback decision will decide the shape of this team once September arrives.
In Other News...
Brock Bowers' Absence Just Put Raiders Fans On Edge
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For a team that leans on Bowers as one of its most important pieces, any missed practice naturally draws a close look, especially after he was limited at points in his second season. The Raiders have not offered an injury designation or any explanation for why he sat out, which leaves a familiar kind of practice-day suspense hanging over a player fans are watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Overlooked Raiders Just Gave The Coaching Staff Early Roster Answers
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On the other side of the ball, Treven Ma'ae, Greedy Vance Jr., Cody Lindenberg and Dalton Johnson each made their presence felt with tackles and coverage work that can matter a lot in August. Even special teams got a small but meaningful answer, with long snapper Tyler Duzansky turning in a solid outing and grading higher than his competition. None of it guarantees anything this early, but it does give Las Vegas some early clues about which overlooked players are making a legitimate case to stick around. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Mayer Could Be The Raiders Answer On Offense
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Mayer is expected to be part of a two-headed tight end attack with Brock Bowers, giving the Raiders a pair of capable options in a scheme that still wants to lean on a physical run game. For a team looking to build something more balanced and dependable, that kind of usage could turn Mayer into a much bigger piece of the offense than he has been in previous stretches. [Read more 🡒]