The Las Vegas Raiders wrapped up the preseason with the kind of game this matchup so often delivers: tight, choppy, and decided by field goals. Klint Kubiak’s team dropped an 18-12 result to the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Alumni Night, finishing a game that featured no touchdowns and 10 field goals.
The most notable part of the night came early, when the Raiders extended their starters farther than they had in earlier exhibition games. The first team stayed on the field for the first two drives on both sides of the ball, and several offensive starters were still in for the third series before rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza took over. That gave Raider Nation a longer look at the group, even if the night never really opened up.
Mendoza showed plenty of swagger after entering. He threw the interception, and the protection around him made life difficult, but he kept coming back at the 49ers without looking rattled. There were moments where he made plays on the move and showed some improvisation, even if the blocking made it hard to build much of anything.
The offensive line depth was a major problem again. Charles Grant was beaten badly on a speed rush off the edge, Atonio Mafi and Trey Zuhn III blew a stunt, and the run game never found room to breathe. Mendoza took hit after hit, and no combination along the line really settled things down.
One of the brighter spots in the backfield was Mike Washington Jr., who needed just one drive to make an impression. Even if Ashton Jeanty were fully healthy, Washington Jr. should be a real factor in this running back room after the preseason he’s put together. He looked like more than a depth piece.
The Raiders’ defense also had reasons to feel better about the night. Rob Leonard’s unit was sharper on third down, kept the 49ers out of the end zone, and looked noticeably better on the back end in coverage. The run defense still gave up some explosives, but there was clear improvement.
Several defenders stood out in the secondary and at linebacker. Isaiah Pola-Mao and Taron Johnson both played well, Treydan Stukes looked comfortable enough to deserve a starting role, and Jermod McCoy had a solid showing in coverage while staying disciplined against a reverse. Zeke Masses was excellent in coverage again and added a strong tackle.
There were also some missed chances in the middle of the defense. Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg each missed two tackles, which undercut some of the good work elsewhere. Even so, Segun Olubi had a few splash plays, including a nice coverage rep, and both Cameron McGrone and Xavian Sorey Jr. turned in good outings.
Up front, Patrick Johnson and Foley Fatukasi kept making plays, with Johnson contributing on special teams too. Keyron Crawford recorded his first sack, though the injury concern is there, and Jahfari Harvey had several disruptive rushes. JJ Pegues also flashed at times.
The first-team offense, for its part, looked strong. The red zone felt deliberately limited and a little vanilla, but the overall structure was encouraging. Everyone got involved, the line held up well, Kirk Cousins worked from clean pockets, and Washington Jr. had room to run.
There were also useful touches for Tre Tucker, who got the manufactured looks you’d expect, and Jalen Nailor made a standout catch. Jack Bech and Michael Mayer both hauled in passes as well, though Nailor could have come down with the throw that turned into Mendoza’s interception. Bech struggled as a blocker, and Ian Thomas had a rough night.
The competition along the offensive line remains intense. Caleb Rogers and Jackson Powers-Johnson both played well, with Rogers helping spring a pair of Washington Jr. runs on the second possession and Powers-Johnson turning in what looked like an all-around excellent performance. That decision is going to be a tough one for the coaching staff, and it may not be settled anytime soon.
For all the ups and downs, the Raiders were cleaner than usual. They committed only two penalties for 15 yards, and the special teams operation looked sharper too, with fewer flags and much better coverage. The details were better.
Matt Gay had a solid night overall and then missed from 54 yards. Before that, he hit from 53, 48, 45 and 37 yards. Kansei Matsuzawa never got a chance to kick.
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O'Connells case is straightforward enough, since he offers experience and a degree of stability behind Cousins, but keeping him would mean giving up a spot the Raiders could use elsewhere. Releasing him or trying to work out a trade would free that space, though it would also leave the club exposed if another team pounces. Las Vegas does have the first waiver priority, which gives the front office a little extra flexibility on cutdown day, but it still leaves the Raiders balancing immediate protection at quarterback against the chance to improve the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]