The Raiders’ 4-4 start has them in a far better spot than last season, but the next test comes fast and it comes hard: a road trip to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Las Vegas is coming off a much-needed win over the New York Jets in Week 8, a game the Raiders closed out in the second half after weathering a hot Jets offense. It was the kind of response that snapped a four-game losing streak and kept the team moving in the right direction under Klint Kubiak, whose staff has kept the locker room steady through the swings.
Now the challenge shifts again. The Raiders head west to face a 49ers team that opened the season 6-0, and the matchup asks a simple question: can Las Vegas take what has worked against the teams it has beaten and make it hold up against one of the league’s best?
That’s the next step for a team that has already surpassed last season’s win total and is still, technically, in the playoff hunt at the halfway point. The four teams the Raiders have beaten this year are a combined 5-24, which makes the margin clear. If Las Vegas wants to get where it says it wants to go, it has to start taking down teams with winning records.
Wednesday’s practice report added another layer to the picture. Starting cornerback Darien Porter did not practice because of a groin injury that also kept him out for all but one play against the Jets. Porter’s status matters even more this week with the Raiders’ defensive backfield already having gone through a rough stretch.
Jackson Powers-Johnson and Patrick Johnson also did not practice on Wednesday. Brock Bowers, Quay Walker, Kwity Paye, and Jack Bech were full participants, while Folorunso Fatukasi, DJ Glaze, and Ian Thomas were limited.
The Raiders also made a roster move on Wednesday, releasing receiver Cody White and activating tight end Carter Runyon from Injured Reserve. Runyon was a full participant in practice.
Las Vegas has been careful with its health management all week, trying to keep key players as close to full strength as possible. With another road game and a tougher opponent waiting, the rest of the week should tell the story on who’s ready to go by Sunday.
In Other News...
Mark Davis Just Weighed In On The Raiders QB Tension
The Raiders quarterback picture has a little more clarity from the top, even if the timetable still feels fluid. In a CNBC interview, owner Mark Davis said he does not feel any pressure to rush rookie Fernando Mendoza onto the field this season, a notable stance for a team trying to balance development with stability at the games most important position.
Davis also framed Kirk Cousins as the kind of veteran presence that can help bridge the gap while Mendoza keeps learning the professional game. He said the rookie is progressing well, but there is no need to force the issue right away, which leaves the Raiders with a patient approach for now and a bigger question still hanging over when the next chapter actually begins. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Brutal Maxx Crosby Decision As Deadline Nears
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the Raiders are staring at one of the toughest roster calls they could face. Maxx Crosby is not asking out, and the expectation around the league is still that Las Vegas will keep its All-Pro edge rusher, but the phone lines figure to stay busy after a recent trade involving Jeffery Simmons helped push Crosbys market higher.
The challenge for the Raiders is obvious: Crosby remains central to what they do, especially with the current state of the defensive line, yet his value could be at its peak if the team ever decided to listen. Even with the possibility of significant offers coming in, Las Vegas would have to weigh the immediate hit to its defense against the kind of return it would demand to even consider moving one of the franchises most important players. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Just Got A New Reminder Of Al Davis Legacy
Christian Bale is helping bring one of the most influential figures in Raiders history back into the spotlight. Speaking on ESPNs SportsCenter, Bale discussed his role in David O. Russells upcoming movie Madden and described Al Davis as a complicated force who rose through the organization and left a lasting imprint on the Raiders and the NFL.
For Raiders fans, the timing makes the reminder feel especially relevant, with the film set to arrive during the 2026 NFL season. Bale also pointed to Davis once a Raider, always a Raider mindset, along with his civil rights record and broader impact on the league, underscoring why Davis remains such a central part of the franchises identity. [Read more 🡒]