The Raiders’ defense has looked transformed under Rob Leonard early in the 2026 season, but Week 3 brings a different kind of test. New Orleans doesn’t just have one weapon to worry about. The Saints have Chris Olave at the center of the offense, a run game built around Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara if the former plays, Tyler Shough looking like a franchise quarterback, and a front that can create problems up front.
Still, the most intriguing matchup may come at tight end, where Juwan Johnson gives Las Vegas its first real challenge at the position.
Johnson has been moved all over the formation through two games, with 52 snaps in the slot, 46 inline and 14 outside. Kellen Moore has gotten him involved no matter where he lines up, and the production has followed: seven catches, 120 yards and a touchdown.
He has been effective in a lot of different ways, too. Johnson has made plays across the middle, near the sideline, behind the line of scrimmage and over the top.
He has enough speed and awareness to shake linebackers, and enough strength to give defensive backs trouble. At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, he brings the kind of size and versatility that can stress a defense in more than one spot.
That matters because the Raiders have not yet seen a tight end like him. Through two games, Las Vegas has allowed only eight catches for 66 yards and a touchdown to opposing tight ends. That group has included Greg Dulcich, Charlie Kolar, Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku, who played just a half, so Johnson arrives with more receiving production by himself than the Raiders have given up to the position combined.
Leonard has been able to use his linebackers in flexible ways so far, sending them on blitzes or using them as spies on mobile quarterbacks. Shough fits that description, too.
But Johnson may force a different approach. Instead of leaning on edge pressure or asking Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker to set picks and spy, the Raiders may have to keep them in coverage more often.
Taron Johnson also hasn’t been tested much in the slot, with an injured Ladd McConkey not doing much and the Miami Dolphins’ pass catchers not posing much of a threat. That makes this matchup the most this unit has been challenged all season.
Last week, the Raiders handled Johnston by not letting him matter, and that played a big part in their win. Johnson now presents the same kind of assignment.
In Other News...
Raiders 3-0 Push May Depend On One Saints Weakness
The Raiders head into their matchup with New Orleans looking for a third straight win, and the path could run straight through Tyler Shough. Las Vegas has already made a habit of leaning on pressure under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, and that approach makes sense here against a quarterback who has spent the season under constant duress.
Shough has been the leagues most pressured passer so far and has taken eight sacks in two games, a combination that has helped expose how much trouble he can get into when the pocket breaks down. For the Raiders, the challenge is turning that weakness into the kind of disruption that can shape the game, because their chase for 3-0 may hinge on whether Leonards fronts and blitzes keep forcing mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Head Into Saints Game With Key Availability Still Unsettled
The final injury report is in, and the Raiders are still sorting through a few moving pieces ahead of their Week 3 trip to face the Saints. Several players were listed as limited or questionable, but the expectation is that most will be available, giving Las Vegas a chance to keep some continuity on both sides of the ball while it heads into another early-season test.
The one clear absence is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, who remains out with a concussion, and veteran Isaiah Pola-Mao is set to start in his place. Between that shuffle in the secondary and the possibility of Brock Bowers returning, there is still a fair amount for the Raiders to monitor before kickoff, especially with Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins both pointing to how important the defensive response will be in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A 3-0 Test Against A Saints Wrinkle They Must Solve
The Raiders head into Week 3 with a chance to build on a 3-0 start, but the Saints present a specific kind of problem that has already shown up on film. Under coordinator Brandon Staley, New Orleans has leaned into a blitzing concept against teams that operate from under-center looks, and it helped create pressure problems for the Ravens. For Las Vegas, that means this is not just another early-season test, but a matchup that could hinge on how well the offense handles a wrinkle designed to disrupt timing before a play can fully develop.
One possible answer is to lean into personnel that can help steady the picture and give the offense more flexibility. The Raiders may turn to fullback Connor Heyward in 21 personnel, a setup that could help them counter the Saints pressure looks while opening up more options around the formation. It is the kind of adjustment that does not guarantee clean answers, but it does give Las Vegas a path to keep its offense from getting boxed in by a defense that is clearly looking to force one. [Read more 🡒]