The Raiders finally get their regular-season opener on Sunday, and the first matchup brings another team in the middle of its own reset: the Miami Dolphins. Las Vegas is in a rebuild of its own, with young talent scattered on both sides of the ball, and this game will show a lot about where the roster stands right now.
The biggest name on the field is still Maxx Crosby, and for good reason. His return to the Raiders came after a wild stretch in which he was basically traded to the Baltimore Ravens for high draft picks before a failed physical sent him back to the desert within days.
Crosby remains the kind of edge rusher who can wreck a game plan, and he’ll be asked to do that against Miami’s offensive tackles while staying sharp at the mesh point. That matters even more with the Dolphins’ dynamic run threat featuring De’Von Achane and Malik Willis.
If Crosby is controlling his side, the Raiders’ defense has a chance to set the tone.
On offense, Michael Mayer suddenly finds himself with a huge opportunity. With Brock Bowers out, Mayer should step in as the Raiders’ top pass-catcher, and he’s doing it in a contract year.
That puts real pressure on him, but he’s handled bigger roles before and should be a dependable outlet for quarterback Kirk Cousins. In Klint Kubiak’s offense, Mayer looks positioned to be a central piece.
There’s also a rookie worth watching in the back end. Treydan Stukes, a second-round pick, has earned the starting free safety job after a strong training camp and preseason.
He needed a short adjustment period early in the summer, but he kept making plays all camp and throughout the preseason. His versatility, football IQ, athleticism, and play-making ability all stood out.
Stukes won’t be locked into one spot, either. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is expected to move him around the secondary and give him some nickel reps as well. He’s too talented to stay in one lane, and he could end up being one of the names that jumps off the page from Sunday’s game, no matter how the final score looks.
In Other News...
Raiders Face An Early Brock Bowers Problem They Can't Ignore
Brock Bowers wont be available when the Raiders open the season against the Dolphins, and that puts an immediate spotlight on how Las Vegas plans to move forward without one of its most important young playmakers. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the tight end has been ruled out after undergoing a meniscus trim surgery on his knee, a development that leaves the team to adjust its Week 1 plans before the games even start.
The bigger concern for the Raiders is that no specific return timeline has been set, which makes Bowers absence feel less like a short detour and more like the start of a cautious waiting game. Given the teams awareness of his previous knee issues, this is clearly a situation Las Vegas is handling carefully, but it also means the offense has to be ready for an early stretch without the player it was built to feature. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Week 1 Inactives Include One Surprise Fans Didnt See Coming
The Raiders first game of the season brought one notable wrinkle before kickoff, as the clubs Week 1 inactive list against the Dolphins included linebacker Cody Lindenberg. Las Vegas also ruled out quarterback Aidan OConnell, who is serving as the emergency third quarterback, along with tight end Brock Bowers, safety Dalton Johnson, defensive tackle JJ Pegues, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. and interior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue.
For a team sorting through roster decisions and health questions in the opening week, the inactive list offered an early look at how the Raiders want to shape the sideline mix against Miami. Some of the names were expected because of injury or recent acquisition status, but Lindenbergs designation stood out as the one fans probably did not have circled when the day began. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face One Big Maxx Crosby Question Before The Deadline
The trade chatter around Maxx Crosby has only grown louder as the November 10 deadline nears, and it all starts with how close the Raiders came to dealing their star edge rusher in the first place. The Ravens backed out of a trade agreement after Crosby failed a physical, which instantly reset the market and sent other contenders back to the table. The Rams were among the most aggressive teams to circle back, but Crosby made it clear he wants to stay in Las Vegas.
Even with that stance, the phone lines are not likely to go quiet. The Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers have all shown interest, and Dallas has emerged as the club that could make the strongest push if it decides to act before the deadline. For the Raiders, the question is no longer whether Crosby has value. It is how long they can hold onto one of the leagues most coveted pass rushers while the rest of the market keeps probing. [Read more 🡒]