The Raiders’ updated Week 2 depth chart is out, and a few things jump off the page before Las Vegas even kicks off against the Chargers.
At quarterback, Cousins remains the clear starter. The bigger question is how much firepower this offense can actually unlock with him running it.
The backfield picture is a lot easier to read after Week 1. Jeanty turned in arguably the best game of his career on Sunday, and the Raiders are clearly planning to feature him in every way they can. That first game showed exactly what happens when they keep feeding him: this offense gets hard to handle.
There’s also a real possibility the Raiders start thinking more seriously about how to manage Bowers’ workload. If Mayer and Thomas keep producing the way they did, Las Vegas should have reason to give Bowers extra time off.
The receivers did exactly what the team wanted in Week 1, and the Raiders need that to keep going. That’s the formula for this group right now: stay steady and keep making plays.
Up front, Miller looks like his usual reliable self again. Burford has settled in well, especially between Miller and Tyler Linderbaum, and Cabeldue is the only change from last week’s depth chart.
Linderbaum’s presence stood out right away in Week 1, giving the Raiders options they didn’t have last season. Powers-Johnson may be in line for his best version yet, as long as he stays healthy.
Glaze also looks better than he did a year ago, but one game doesn’t settle that debate. He has to keep it going.
The defensive front might be the deepest part of this roster. Crosby is working with what could be the best supporting cast he’s had since being drafted, and that should show up in his production. The Raiders have enough depth inside to rotate all of their defensive tackles, and Paye’s arrival only strengthened a group that already looked solid at defensive end and edge rusher.
Dean gave this defense the kind of presence it needed, and the Raiders need him on the field. Walker’s impact has been just as valuable. That’s a major part of why this unit looks so different.
In the secondary, Stokes has locked down the starting job, while McCoy and Luter keep working their way up to speed. Masses should see more action as the season goes on, beginning this week. Johnson handled his business on Sunday, but he and the rest of the secondary are staring at a tough test against the Chargers.
Stukes had an impressive first game in the league, picking off his first pass and wiping away safety as a concern, at least for one week. He’s going to be tested much more heavily this Sunday.
Chinn will be a key piece in that matchup, and Rob Leonard is expected to move him around in a bunch of different ways. The veteran safety is a central part of Leonard’s defense, and the Raiders would be wise to keep him in that role going forward.
Special teams also showed up in a big way. The Raiders would probably prefer not to punt until the fourth quarter again, like they did against the Dolphins, but Cole will be ready either way. Laube made a real difference in the Week 1 win through special teams, and if Las Vegas keeps getting good field position from strong kickoff returns, that could swing a game or two this season.
Benson was just as dangerous on punt returns, averaging nearly 20 yards against the Dolphins. The Raiders are only starting to tap into what he can do on offense and special teams.
In Other News...
Kwity Paye Is Already Changing What Raiders Can Do Up Front
Kwity Payes first game with the Raiders gave Las Vegas something it has been looking for up front: another defender who can make the quarterback uncomfortable without needing everything to run through Maxx Crosby. Paye showed up across the stat sheet with sacks, quarterback hits, pressures, tackles and stops, and the bigger takeaway was how quickly he fit into a role that asks him to work alongside Crosby rather than simply chase production on his own.
That pairing matters because Paye also brings versatility, lining up in multiple spots and giving the Raiders more ways to shape their front. For a defense that already leans on Crosby to tilt protections and dictate attention, having another edge presence who can move around changes the way opponents have to prepare. It is early, but the first impression was enough to suggest Las Vegas may have found a front-seven piece that opens up more options than the box score alone can show. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Got Early AFC West Hope Few Fans Expected
The Raiders opened the 2026 season with a home win over the Dolphins, and that alone would have been enough to leave Las Vegas feeling better about itself after the summer buildup. What made the first Sunday even more interesting for the AFC West race was the way the rest of the division shook out, with the Chargers falling to the Cardinals while the Chiefs handled the Broncos.
For a fan base that has spent plenty of time looking up at Kansas City, the early standings offered an unusual bit of breathing room. It is only Week 1, of course, and the division still runs through the Chiefs, but the Raiders at least got the kind of start that can keep hope alive longer than most people expected. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Cousins Just Gave Raiders Fans Real Hope At Quarterback
The Raiders had plenty of questions at quarterback when they brought in veteran Kirk Cousins to serve as the bridge while rookie Fernando Mendoza develops into the long-term answer. In Week 1, Cousins helped settle things down by guiding Las Vegas to a win over the Miami Dolphins, and the bigger takeaway was not just the result but the way he kept the offense on schedule with steady, sustained drives.
For a team staring at a difficult stretch ahead, that kind of competence matters. The plan has been straightforward from the start, with Cousins expected to provide solid play for part of the season while Mendoza gets his footing, but early wins have a way of changing the temperature around a season and making the quarterback conversation feel a little less settled than it did in the summer. [Read more 🡒]