The Raiders are walking into Week 7 with more than just a game plan to sort out. In Las Vegas, the interesting stuff is happening around the edges: roster shuffling, injury uncertainty and the kind of personnel questions that can turn into much bigger conversations fast.
One of the clearest ones is Jackson Powers-Johnson. Last week, head coach Klint Kubiak went with second-year pro Caleb Rogers at right guard instead of Powers-Johnson, and that kind of move naturally opens the door to speculation about what comes next for the former second-round pick.
If the Raiders decide Powers-Johnson doesn’t have a short-term fit in Kubiak’s offense, his market could get loud in a hurry. He’s 23, has one year left on his rookie deal and can line up at center and both guard spots.
That kind of versatility matters, especially for a player with a low-cost contract and some upside attached. According to Over the Cap, he has no guaranteed money after the 2026 season and carries a modest $2.8 million cap number for 2027.
Unless Kubiak puts him back in the starting five, Powers-Johnson looks like one of the more obvious trade names to watch before the November 10 deadline.
The backfield is worth monitoring too. Mike Washington Jr. showed up on this week’s injury report with foot and back issues, then logged a limited practice Wednesday before missing Thursday and Friday.
That kind of practice trend usually points in one direction. Still, when Kubiak was asked about Washington, he said, “We’re expecting him to be ready.”
That doesn’t exactly clear things up. Kubiak has not been especially open with injury updates, so the transaction wire may end up telling the real story.
If the Raiders elevate undrafted rookie Roman Hemby, that would be a strong hint Washington is headed for Sunday’s inactive list. Hemby was already called up before Week 5 against the New England Patriots, though he didn’t get any snaps in that game.
There’s also movement potentially coming at receiver. Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are both getting closer to returning from injuries, and that could alter how Las Vegas approaches the position group over the next stretch.
Bech was placed on injured reserve after the Raiders’ Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints because of a broken forearm. He can be activated after Sunday’s game. Thornton landed on injured reserve after the August 30 roster-cut deadline, which means the Raiders can bring him back during the season.
Bech hinted at the timeline himself with a simple post on Instagram: “Soon”
Thornton’s progress has also been trending in the right direction. Kubiak told The Athletic's Sam Warren:
" He's making big progress. He's done a lot of good things in practice.
Still working back, getting his football legs back after missing a lot of time. But I've been really pleased with his effort, with his detail.
He's close."
The clock is ticking on Thornton, though. Since the Raiders opened his 21-day practice window three weeks ago, they have to activate him for Week 8 or he’ll be done for the season.
Between Powers-Johnson’s status, Washington’s availability and the return timeline for Bech and Thornton, the Raiders’ roster decisions this week may end up shaping more than just Sunday’s lineup.
In Other News...
Raiders Trade Deadline Could Decide Their Biggest Weakness
The Raiders have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, but one of the old issues is still hanging around. Las Vegas has seen signs of progress up front, yet the offensive line remains a concern as the season moves along, and it has become the clearest area where the front office could still make a difference.
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has stressed the staffs detailed, incremental approach to the unit, focusing on small weekly gains rather than treating the line like a finished product. That leaves the trade deadline as a meaningful checkpoint for the Raiders, who have to decide whether to keep developing the current group or look for a move that could stabilize the interior and give the offense a better chance to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Is Heating Up For One Complicated Reason
Maxx Crosby keeps doing what hes always done for the Raiders, which is stress quarterbacks and make life miserable even when the box score does not always fully capture it. Through six games, he has piled up 15 quarterback hits and sits tied for third in the NFL in that category, a reminder that his impact goes well beyond the sack total and into the daily problem-solving that defines elite pass rushers.
Even so, his name has not escaped trade chatter, and that is where the conversation gets complicated for Las Vegas. The league has seen rushers with similar production move for less draft capital than fans might expect, and Crosbys contract situation only adds another layer to the debate, which is why his value keeps coming up whenever teams start wondering what a premium defender is really worth. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Have A Trade Deadline Chance They Can't Ignore
At 3-3, Las Vegas is squarely in the middle of the AFC picture but also close enough to the edge to treat the November 10 trade deadline like a real decision point. The Raiders have already given themselves reason to think about adding help, and one name that keeps surfacing is Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a veteran lineman who could give the front a much-needed boost if the right deal materializes.
Buckner also fits the kind of conversation that tends to follow a deadline with stakes: he is in a contract year, he has the resume to draw interest, and the asking price would not be limited to money alone. For the Raiders, the question is whether a move that improves the defense now is worth the draft capital it would take to get it done, especially with other teams expected to be involved before the clock runs out. [Read more 🡒]