The Raiders are trying to steady themselves heading into Week 8, and the latest news out of Las Vegas brings a little bit of everything: injury updates, roster churn, a practice-squad pickup and a few more moving parts before Sunday’s meeting with the New York Jets.
The biggest immediate concern is the final injury report. Patrick Johnson is out with a stinger, while Carter Runyon has also been ruled out and has not yet been activated. Jackson Powers-Johnson is questionable with a back injury, and Jack Bech is also questionable with a forearm issue.
Brock Bowers, Eric Stokes, DJ Glaze, Quay Walker, Foley Fatukasi and Ian Thomas all appear on the report as well, though none of them carry an injury designation for the game. Stokes was added Friday with an illness, so that situation is worth monitoring, but the rest were full participants in Friday’s practice.
Johnson’s absence stings, but it does not look like a season-altering blow. His role on defense has been limited, and the Raiders have options to cover his work on special teams.
Runyon, meanwhile, remains on the sideline after not being activated from injured reserve. Bech is the more interesting case, since the team has sounded optimistic about getting him on the field against the Jets.
The catch is roster space: Las Vegas would need to clear a spot before Week 8, and time is running short.
There was also some movement around the edges of the roster this week. The Raiders added Bralen Trice to the practice squad after opening a spot earlier in the week.
Trice was a third-round pick by the Falcons in 2024, but injuries wiped out his first two seasons in the league. He appeared in four games for Atlanta this year before being waived, and his college resume as an All-Conference player makes him a worthwhile gamble.
On the waiver wire, Jonah Laulu did not last long. After Las Vegas waived him in a corresponding move to activate Dont'e Thornton Jr., the Tennessee Titans claimed him.
Jordan Schultz reported that the Jets, Colts, Patriots, Dolphins and Texans also put in claims, which shows there was real interest in the young defensive tackle. Some may argue the Raiders should have kept him and tried to trade him, but there’s a difference between taking a free claim and giving up assets.
Elsewhere, former Raiders cornerback Jack Jones was released by the 49ers after an uneven stretch in San Francisco. His role had been inconsistent, and after another rough outing in Week 7 - the 49ers’ first loss of the season against the Atlanta Falcons - the team moved on.
The Raiders also announced their NFLPA representatives. A.J. Cole was named the team’s voting representative, with Thomas Booker IV, Tyler Linderbaum and Segun Olubi serving as alternates.
There was even a last-minute change to the broadcast crew for Sunday’s game. FOX Sports switched things up on Friday afternoon, and Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will now be on the call for Raiders-Jets.
One more note from the team: the Week 8 captains include a few familiar names and a first repeat of the season. Dylan Laube, Maxx Crosby and Ashton Jeanty will serve as captains, with Laube and Jeanty having also held the role in Week 2 and Crosby in Week 3.
Most of the Raiders’ 22 starters have already been named captains, but a few players - including Kolton Miller, Jalen Nailor and Spencer Burford - have not yet gotten the nod, along with the rotating starters at right guard. On defense, Tonka Hemingway, Eric Stokes, Jeremy Chinn and the rotating cornerbacks are still waiting for that recognition as well.
In Other News...
Raiders Face A Maxx Crosby Decision That Could Split Fans
Maxx Crosby has become the kind of player every franchise wants to keep and every contender would love to pry away, which is why his name is already circulating with the November 10 trade deadline approaching. The Raiders and Crosby are in a better place now than they were during his previous trade request, but the buzz around him has not gone away, and teams around the league are still watching closely.
The obstacle is familiar: Las Vegas is believed to be asking for a massive return, and Crosbys contract situation only adds another layer of complexity. Even with outside interest building, he has made it clear he would prefer to remain with the Raiders, which leaves the team facing a decision that could easily divide its fan base if the phone keeps ringing. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Enter A Crucial Stretch With Three Problems To Watch
With the November 10 trade deadline looming, the Raiders are weighing a few personnel moves that could reshape the roster in a hurry. Kirk Cousins has become part of that conversation, with Las Vegas at least considering the possibility of moving on and turning the offense over to rookie Fernando Mendoza. It is the kind of crossroads decision that can define a stretch run, especially for a team still sorting out where its best long-term answers are on offense.
The ripple effects do not stop there. Rookie Trey Zuhn III is pushing for the starting right guard job, adding another lineup battle to watch as the Raiders try to stabilize the front five. On the other side of the ball, there is also some second-guessing around defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, with questions lingering about whether Las Vegas moved on too quickly instead of exploring trade value first. [Read more 🡒]
Which Raiders Can Stop This Slide Before The QB Talk Returns
The Raiders head into their matchup with the Jets trying to halt a four-game skid, and the pressure around the offense is obvious even before kickoff. Las Vegas needs someone to settle things down and change the tone, whether that comes from the backfield, the linebacker group or a steadier night from Cousins as the conversation around the quarterback position keeps lingering in the background.
Washington is one of the names worth watching because the Raiders could use a spark on the ground against a Jets defense that has had its issues. Dean also looms as a player who can help tilt the field if Las Vegas is going to get back on track, while the Jets come in carrying their own concerns on defense and with injuries in the backfield adding another layer to a game that already feels important for both sides. [Read more 🡒]