The Chargers see something big in Omarion Hampton, and GM Joe Hortiz didn’t hide the comparison. He put the rookie running back in the same conversation as former All-Pro Ravens back Jamal Lewis, praising Hampton’s blend of burst and force.
“ Omarion is a looser athlete than Jamal [Lewis] but the same type of speed, power combination, ” Hortiz said, via Chargers Wire. “ I mean, I watch him run the ball, and I remember when we were kids watching Jamal run the ball, and I’m like, man, I would not want to get in the way of that; they bounce off of him.
Because people test him, guys will be in practice, and someone’s like, ‘I’m going to put the plastic on him,’ and they get ejected from the club. He’s [Hampton] just so explosive on contact and his speed; you just don’t realize how fast he is.
”
In Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes is ready for the season to start and said Week 1 is exactly where he wants to be after a long offseason.
“This has always been the goal… A long offseason, a lot of work… But now I get to go out there and play the game I love. Great environment, great opponent, and now I get to go out there and be myself.”
Mahomes also said he’ll wear the knee brace, though he only really notices it when he slides.
Rashee Rice, meanwhile, said the biggest part of his return has been mental trust in his knee. He said he’s been grinding to get back to full strength and spending extra time in the training room.
“I push myself every day to get to 100%. Spend a lot of extra time in the training room. Pretty sure I’m 100%, but I’m just ready to get to the game.”
Rice also sounded comfortable with where he stands with Mahomes, saying the two already built chemistry before he was even back on the field.
“I think the chemistry is great. Before I was even running, I was out there on the turf getting catches with him…”
As for his contract situation, Rice said he isn’t looking past Monday.
“I’m not necessarily focused on the future. We’ve got a game on Monday…”
Out in Las Vegas, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show that very few people outside the organization knew about Brock Bowers’ meniscus injury before yesterday, since the Raiders weren’t required to submit an injury report.
Schefter also said the one-to-two-week timeline is coming from Bowers’ camp and is likely what Bowers believes, while suggesting the Raiders may choose a more cautious path with their top pass catcher.
And in the Raiders’ quarterback room, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko explained why first-round pick Fernando Mendoza beat out Aidan O’Connell for the backup job.
“Just the way he approached every single day, every meeting, every walkthrough. When there was nothing to do, how he was preparing.
Then what he did on the field. The goods, the bads and how he grew from each experience, whether it be good or whether it be bad.
How he grew and got ready to be in this role for this week.”
In Other News...
Raiders Suddenly Have A Quarterback Decision Seattle Could Complicate
Sam Darnolds hip injury has put the Seahawks in a holding pattern after he was sent for an MRI and team doctors continued reviewing the results to map out his recovery. Mike Macdonald has already ruled out a fracture, which at least narrows the concern, but Seattle is still weighing whether the injury could push Darnold onto short-term injured reserve and force the quarterback room to absorb a longer absence than it first appeared.
For the Raiders, that situation is worth watching because Seattles search for depth could ripple into the trade market and create a new layer to Las Vegas own quarterback decisions. The Seahawks have internal options in Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe, but the possibility of a move for Kirk Cousins has started to surface as they sort through their next step, and any serious pursuit there would be the kind of quarterback domino effect the Raiders cannot ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Opened The Door For A Bigger Roster Decision
The Raiders created some much-needed breathing room for the future this week, restructuring the contracts of Jalen Nailor and Quay Walker to open up about $8.2 million in 2026 salary cap space. It is the kind of move that does not grab headlines on its own, but it can shape everything that comes next, especially for a team trying to keep its options open as roster planning starts to come into focus.
With the added flexibility, Las Vegas now sits at roughly $11.5 million in available cap space for 2026, enough to leave the front office room to maneuver if a trade opportunity or free agent target emerges. The bigger question is how the Raiders choose to use that cushion, because this kind of financial reset usually signals that more roster decisions are coming into view. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Mayer Just Got A Raiders Opportunity He Couldn't Need More
Brock Bowers is expected to miss one or two games, including the upcoming matchup with the Dolphins, and that immediately changes the picture at tight end for the Raiders. Michael Mayer is now positioned to step into the primary role, giving the former second-round pick a much larger share of the offense at a time when every snap matters.
For Mayer, the timing could hardly be better. He is in a contract year, and with Las Vegas needing production while Bowers is sidelined, he has a real chance to show he can be more than a depth piece and become a trusted target in the passing game. The coming stretch will give the Raiders a clearer read on what he can handle, and possibly on what he might be worth beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]