The Raiders are finally about to trade camp reps for live preseason snaps, and Thursday’s opener against the Arizona Cardinals should tell us a lot about which young players are moving up the board.
This is the first real game setting for a roster that has already shown some interesting movement in training camp. A rookie class has flashed, a couple of second-year players have pushed for bigger jobs, and now the preseason gives them a chance to turn practice momentum into something more tangible.
Five names stand out as the ones who can make the biggest jump with a strong showing.
Fernando Mendoza is one of the clearest examples. With Kirk Cousins sidelined after the practice scuffle involving him and Maxx Crosby, Mendoza got a longer look and, after a rough beginning, settled in. The Athletic’s Sam Warren reported that he missed some early end-zone throws before bouncing back with a scramble-drill touchdown to Michael Mayer and then a well-placed out route to Tre Tucker for another score.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan also liked what he saw.
“ Fernando continues to improve. He’s not repeating mistakes, which is always a good thing. It’s a long process, and we’re pleased with how he’s developing.”
Cousins remains the favorite to open the season as the starter, but Mendoza has a real chance to show he can handle snaps whenever his number is called. If Cousins gets off to a shaky start once the games count, the rookie could be the guy waiting in the wings.
Malik Benson has been one of the loudest offensive stories of camp since spring. He’s already stacked up a highlight reel, and ESPN’s Ryan McFadden noted that he worked with the starters while Jalen Nailor and Dont'e Thornton Jr. were out.
“ Malik Benson was WR2 with Nailor not participating. Kubiak didn’t seem concerned with Nailor’s absence or Thornton leaving practice early.”
With Jack Bech relatively quiet this offseason, Benson has a path to working into three-receiver sets with Nailor and Tre Tucker. If that playmaking carries over against Arizona, the rookie sixth-round pick could all but lock up a roster spot and push toward a place among the team’s top four wideouts. Thornton Jr. still hasn’t returned to action.
Up front, Caleb Rogers is in a tight battle with Jackson Powers-Johnson at right guard. The two have been sharing first-team reps, and while that might look like a sign Powers-Johnson is slipping, it may just be the way the Raiders are handling the competition. Warren noted that offensive line coach Rick Dennison said the team still had more install work to get through before personnel groupings become more settled.
“ Another press conference note of significance: Rick Dennison said the Raiders won't be through their install yet for another few days. Once they're done, more movement could come within the offensive line groupings.”
Even so, Rogers has a real opening to shake up the interior line picture if he performs well in game action. Powers-Johnson has also had to deal with injuries, which only raises the importance of him staying on the field while trying to hold onto the job. Last season, Rogers started at right guard in all six of his appearances while Powers-Johnson was on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
On the defensive side, Tonka Hemingway has been building toward a bigger role for a while. He worked with the first-team defense in the spring, and recent practice reports suggest that momentum has carried into camp under new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. McFadden noted that Hemingway got into the backfield in a padded practice and even sacked Kirk Cousins during a red zone period.
“ #Raiders DT Tonka Hemingway continues to look like someone who is shaping up to be a Week 1 starter. He sacked Kirk Cousins during the red zone period.”
Hemingway flashed late last season with four sacks in his final five outings, and another strong preseason showing could help cement him in the defensive line rotation. The preseason depth chart has him listed as a lead defensive tackle next to Adam Butler, and while those charts are only a snapshot, it’s still a meaningful sign.
Then there’s Hezekiah Masses, who is battling Darien Porter for the No. 2 cornerback job. Rookie fourth-rounder Jermod McCoy has been limited as he works back from a torn ACL, and Masses has been rotating with Porter with the first-team defense. McFadden saw both on the field together Monday, with Masses working in the slot, while Taron Johnson was practicing with the safeties, which could open the door for a pairing with Jeremy Chinn and give Masses a role as a part-time nickelback.
Masses is also trying to answer questions about his tackling, and he made that plain at the podium Monday.
“ I'm trying to take their heads off. That was a big issue; they said I can't tackle, so I'm going to show them.”
Because slot corners have to be active in run support, this preseason matchup gives Masses a clean chance to prove he can handle more than coverage work. If he checks those boxes, the Raiders may have a hard time keeping him off the field once the regular season starts.
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Raiders Receiver Battle Is Putting Bo Jacksons Nephew On Edge
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Shedrick Jackson has flashed enough to stay in the conversation, but he is still fighting an uphill battle because of limited production and his age relative to the rest of the group. As the numbers get squeezed and the Raiders make early roster calculations, every practice rep matters, and Jackson is the kind of player whose future could hinge on how many openings remain once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]