The Raiders are down to one more preseason test before the real decisions start hitting the table.
Las Vegas meets the San Francisco 49ers at home on Thursday night, and with the first preseason under head coach Klint Kubiak nearly wrapped, the roster picture is getting sharper by the day. Kubiak has already made clear that he’s looking at a group he’ll soon have to trim in half, and this latest depth chart says plenty about where things stand.
At quarterback, the Raiders are still sorting through the situation, but the shape of it is becoming easier to read. Las Vegas continues to develop Mendoza, who appears to be further along than some might think.
Even so, the Raiders did not sign Cousins to begin the season as a backup, which means he may not play against the 49ers. The competition, though, is still alive.
The backfield is dealing with a new wrinkle after Jeanty was reported to have suffered a sprained ankle in practice this week. Without him, the Raiders will lean on a group of backs with different strengths. Nobody replaces Jeanty, but the team can at least soften the loss.
Washington is first in line. The rookie has put together a solid preseason and is expected to handle most of the workload until Jeanty returns. Kubiak had praise for the way Washington has handled the jump to the NFL.
“I would say that he has done a phenomenal job of growing up really fast. I think he got here, we drafted him, you come to the NFL, there's a lot on your plate, and then we throw all these new protections at you, these new fronts and blitzes and routes," Kubiak said.
"I think that he's a guy that understands that we are counting on him, and he needs to get up to speed quickly. And he's been mature about that, and he's going to keep working."
Elsewhere on offense, the Raiders’ fullback work is quietly in good hands, with one player handling those duties. If needed, reserve tight ends can help cover some of the same responsibilities.
Tight end is one of the most intriguing spots on the roster. The Raiders may have the deepest tight end room in the league, and Thursday should offer another look at how much Bowers and Mayer will actually play against a team they’ll see again in the regular season.
Wide receiver remains unsettled. Nailor should fit well in Kubiak’s system, but the rest of the pass-catchers need as many reps as possible in the preseason finale.
Bech is in a similar spot, since pushing him too long against a future regular-season opponent may do more harm than good. Benson, Thompson, and Williams should get plenty of work, while Tucker has continued to improve every year and could use the extra run.
Miller likely doesn’t need much time, but Grant could benefit from a valuable night against San Francisco.
Up front, the Raiders are still evaluating depth. Burford has quietly put together a solid camp, while Rogers needs a lot more work on Thursday.
Meredith is listed as the backup center, and the Raiders will get one more chance to see how he handles that role before making a call. Powers-Johnson missed time with an injury last week but is back now, and the team may not want to risk much more in the preseason.
Mafi and Henning can use the reps, and Zuhn is expected to be a starting lineman soon, so every snap matters. Cleveland should also get a long look to see how he holds up under a heavy workload.
On the defensive side, the Raiders’ interior line stands out as their deepest position group. Smith and Fatukasi need more snaps and could be useful behind Hemingway and the others, especially because they bring size that some of the other linemen on the roster do not have. All three players in that group need extended work against a different opponent.
At edge rusher, Koonce, Harvey, and Johnson form a solid trio, but Harvey and Johnson need Thursday night to lock in the progress they’ve made over the past few months.
Linebacker brings another competition worth watching. There should be a battle between Eichenberg and Olubi, and the staff ought to let them sort it out against the 49ers.
Lindenberg is versatile and dependable, but he may not see a ton of time behind Walker depending on how Rob Leonard wants to handle the rotation. Lindenberg and Sorey should both be on the field a lot.
In the secondary, Richardson and McCoy both need work, and McCoy looked quicker in the team’s second preseason game. It will be worth watching whether he takes another step forward.
The loss of Chigozie Anusiem is the biggest note in this group, and Las Vegas is leaning heavily on Porter and Masses this season. Everyone here except Johnson needs plenty of time against San Francisco.
Stukes is another name to watch after a strong offseason performance, one that could make things very interesting this season.
Special teams has its own clarity. The Raiders know what they have in Chinn, which leaves Thursday night for Johnson and Lafayette to prove themselves.
Gay is clearly in control of the job, and the competition has not been close. Cole remains one of the league’s most dependable punters, and Tucker and Laube are among the surest-handed players on the roster.
Technically, Las Vegas could list other options for those roles, but Tucker and McCoy form a solid duo for Thursday.
In Other News...
Raiders Could Face A Costly Veteran Cut Nobody Saw Coming
The Raiders are still sorting through the back end of their roster, and one of the more intriguing questions involves a veteran whose price tag makes him hard to ignore. Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter recently pointed to a highly paid player who could wind up on the outside looking in when the final cuts are made, even though no official decision has been announced and the team has not identified the player.
The speculation has naturally drifted toward Malcolm Koonce, whose play has not matched expectations in the view of Pro Football Focus and whose contract carries significant guaranteed money. Las Vegas also has younger players pushing for jobs, which only adds to the pressure as the roster picture sharpens and the Raiders weigh production against cost in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders WR Battle Just Put Malik Benson Under Real Pressure
The receiver competition in Las Vegas has tightened quickly, and the latest preseason showing only added to the pressure. Head coach Klint Kubiak voiced concerns about the groups performance, which puts a sharper spotlight on a rookie like Malik Benson, whose path already came with the usual challenges of a sixth-round pick trying to carve out a role in a crowded room.
Bensons rough outing included dropped passes, but the bigger question now is how he responds as the calendar moves toward the regular season. Tre Tucker pointed to Bensons balanced mindset and the value of staying resilient, a reminder that the Raiders are still looking for receivers who can handle setbacks and keep stacking better days as the roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Face A Week 1 Backfield Question With Jeanty
Ashton Jeantys training camp has hit an unexpected snag, and it comes at the exact wrong time for a Raiders offense trying to settle its Week 1 plans. Jeanty suffered an ankle sprain in practice, and while the injury is not considered severe, it has left Las Vegas with at least some uncertainty about whether hell be ready when the regular season opens.
Head coach Klint Kubiak declined to get into specific recovery timelines, only saying Jeanty is recovering. For now, the Raiders are doing what teams do when the calendar starts tightening around an injury: lining up contingency plans with their backup running backs in case Jeanty needs a little more time before hes cleared to go. [Read more 🡒]