Kirk Cousins isn’t sounding the alarm after the Raiders’ shaky joint practice. If anything, he’s leaning into the idea that Las Vegas is still building toward something cleaner, tighter and more connected.
Cousins told reporters Tuesday that he sees “good gel” forming in the offense and said the group has developed real chemistry as the season approaches. He also said the unit now has a solid command of the system.
That didn’t erase what happened on the field, though. The Raiders’ protection had a rough time against a strong pass rush, and Cousins didn’t sugarcoat it.
He said the offense put a heavy load on the line, asking for extended pass-blocking reps again and again against a tough opponent.
There was one clear standout in Cousins’ comments: Brock Bowers. Cousins praised the tight end as a professional who handles his routes and takes care of his body, and he said the ceiling is high if the Raiders keep getting him the ball and Bowers stays healthy.
The bigger issue, though, is what all of this says about the offensive line. Las Vegas signed Cousins as a bridge starter over rookie Fernando Mendoza because head coach Klint Kubiak, who worked with him in Minnesota, believes the 37-year-old can still help win games right away.
That plan only works if Cousins has time to operate. A rough day against an outside pass rush, even in a practice setting, is the kind of thing that puts the spotlight on the tackle depth behind the returning pieces and free-agent addition Tyler Linderbaum at center.
If Cousins is already taking pressure in camp, it naturally brings up questions about how the staff will handle his workload and how long it takes before Mendoza starts becoming a real factor on the depth chart. For now, Bowers looks like the centerpiece of the passing game, and Cousins’ remarks sounded like a clear commitment to keeping him involved no matter how defenses choose to play it.
With Kubiak’s preference for quick-game concepts, the Raiders may lean even more on shorter throws in the weeks ahead. That would give the tackles a little relief while the team keeps sorting through combinations up front.
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Fernando Mendozas preseason outing against the Texans had its bright spots and its ugly ones, but for Malik Benson, the tape will mostly be remembered for the missed chances. The Raiders rookie wide receiver, who has flashed enough in training camp to generate some optimism, managed one catch for 18 yards while also putting two passes on the ground in a game where every clean rep mattered.
Benson came into the summer with a real opening to strengthen his case for regular-season snaps, especially as a late-round pick trying to carve out a role. Instead, the kind of mistakes that can linger in the minds of coaches showed up at an inopportune time, leaving his path to Week 1 looking a little less secure than it did before this preseason test. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Will Notice How Fernando Mendoza Responded To One Brutal Mistake
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What stood out, though, was the way Mendoza reacted after the mistake. Instead of easing up, he chased Woodaz and tried to make the tackle before the score was complete, a small but telling detail about how he handled the moment. Troy Aikman also noted on the broadcast that the play may have been the result of a miscommunication rather than a simple misread, which leaves the Raiders with a familiar preseason question - how much of a costly turnover was a quarterback mistake, and how much was just the kind of timing issue young passers have to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Aidan OConnell May Have Just Ended A Raiders QB Debate
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For a team still sorting out its quarterback pecking order, that kind of finish carries real weight. OConnell has been working to lock down the No. 2 job behind Kirk Cousins, and a poise-filled comeback drive in the preseason is exactly the sort of showing that can tilt a debate in his favor, even if the final call is still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]