The Raiders got enough from their young core to leave New York with a win, and Sunday’s game offered another look at how much this roster is leaning on rookies and second-year players. Las Vegas had contributions in all three phases, and several of the younger pieces were right in the middle of it.
One of the clearest examples came out of the backfield, where the Raiders turned to Mike Washington Jr. to carry more of the load while Ashton Jeanty got some time off. Washington’s work on the ground helped set the tone for the offense and created more room for the unit as a whole.
With Jeanty not yet back to full strength, this could be more than a one-game adjustment. If Washington keeps producing like this, especially against a stronger San Francisco 49ers defense, the Raiders may have a longer-term answer on their hands.
Up front, Trey Zuhn III gave Las Vegas something it has been searching for at right guard. The Raiders spent the offseason getting him ready to play multiple spots, and after trying several ways to solve the position, they finally put him there Sunday.
That preparation paid off. Zuhn looked composed, handled the spot well, and gave the coaching staff reason to believe he can help stabilize a problem area.
“I thought Trey [Zuhn III] was calm in there. I thought he was well prepared.
That was not a surprise, but I thought he played well. I think there’s things that he’s going to want to improve on.
But I was pleased, along with the coaching staff, with the effort that he put on the field and what his future looks like for us,” Kubiak said Monday afternoon.
Jeanty’s workload was limited early, with just one carry, one target, and one catch by the end of the first half. Even so, he still delivered one of the biggest plays of the day.
His 45-yard reception came through in a crucial moment and showed both the reminder that he is still not fully healthy and the kind of impact he can make anyway. Kubiak made it clear Monday that the Raiders plan to keep using all of their backs.
“I stand by what I said, that we’re going to need Mike [Washington Jr.], we’re going to need Ashton [Jeanty], we’re going to need Dylan [Laube]. They’re all part of our success, run and pass, and Ashton made huge plays for us in the game yesterday in the pass game, in protection,” Kubiak said.
“Phenomenal in protection like he’s always been, and just the way the game went yesterday, Mike got more carries, and going forward, we’re going to be counting on all three of those guys.”
The defense had a rougher day overall, especially in the secondary, but not every young defensive back was lost in the shuffle. Stukes had his moments, and even on the biggest play he gave up, he was in position to make a play. His development remains important for both him and the defense.
McCoy is also starting to see more snaps as the Raiders search for answers in the back end. He missed all of last season away from football, and even now, halfway through this year, there are moments when he still looks a step behind. On the touchdown he allowed, he never really had a shot to stop it.
In Other News...
Kirk Cousins Gave Raiders Fans A New Reason To Love Sunday
Kirk Cousins gave Raiders fans a jolt Sunday in New York, steering a comeback win that felt like the kind of road result this team has been hunting for. After falling behind at halftime, Las Vegas settled in behind Cousins, who topped 200 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes in a 38-33 victory over the Jets, with scoring strikes going to Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
The performance also came with a few wrinkles worth watching beyond the final score. Coach Klint Kubiak addressed Ashton Jeantys limited workload, while Mike Washington Jr. handled the heavier lift in the run game and finished with 25 carries for 83 yards, giving the offense a different look as it worked to keep pace and close out the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Win Sparked A Bigger Ashton Jeanty Question
The Raiders Week 8 win over the Jets brought a little extra attention to Ashton Jeanty, not because of what he did after the game, but because of what he said before it. Klint Kubiak addressed Jeantys pregame comments and made clear the rookies role was not being shaped by anything he said about New York, a useful bit of context for a team still sorting out how it wants to deploy its backfield.
Mike Washington Jr. ended up handling the heavier rushing load, while Jeanty was more involved as a receiver, a split that fit the way the game unfolded in Las Vegas favor. For a player with Jeantys profile, the bigger question now is less about one weeks usage and more about how the Raiders decide to balance his touches as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Escaped With A Win But Their Secondary Has A New Problem
The Raiders left New York with a win in Week 8, but the trip did little to quiet the concerns around a secondary that was under pressure for much of the afternoon. Las Vegas survived a second-half comeback from the Jets, yet the defense spent too much time on its heels, and the issues in coverage were hard to ignore even with the result in hand.
Eric Stokes was at the center of it, as the Jets kept testing the cornerback and found enough success to keep their offense moving. He was not the only one having a rough day in the back end, either, with other Raiders defenders also struggling to slow down New York's passing game. The victory matters in the standings, but the tape will give this coaching staff plenty to sort through before the next game. [Read more 🡒]