The early returns on Tonka Hemingway are starting to look like the Raiders’ offseason buzz was built on something real.
Las Vegas saw enough in the second-year defensive tackle to move him into a starting role next to Adam Butler under Klint Kubiak and Rob Leonard, and Hemingway has answered with a stronger, more complete start to the 2026 NFL season. He has not been the type of interior disruptor who fills up the sack column yet, but he has been doing plenty of useful work through two games, and Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints gives him a chance to turn that progress into something bigger.
Hemingway’s stat line already shows a player involved in a lot of different ways. He has seven tackles and two stops against the run, along with four pressures and one quarterback hit as a rusher. He has also made his presence felt in coverage, batting down two passes and dropping into coverage four times without allowing a completion.
That kind of versatility matters in Leonard’s defense, and Hemingway has been used all over the line. Most of his snaps have come at the 3-tech, but he has also spent plenty of time lined up over the tackle.
On a few snaps, he has even been at the nose or on the edge. That kind of movement keeps an offense guessing, and it gives Leonard more ways to use him.
The biggest shift, though, has been on the run defense side. Hemingway struggled there as a rookie, but he has looked more dependable this season while playing a much larger role. The pressure is still coming from the interior even if he has not finished the play yet, and the overall package is starting to match the spring and summer hype that came from inside the building, including from assistant GM Brian Stark.
New Orleans gives him a clear lane to keep building.
The Saints’ offensive tackle issues have already drawn plenty of attention because of what they mean for Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ edge rush. But the interior is not exactly a fortress either, and that sets up Hemingway for a favorable matchup.
Erik McCoy is the most stable piece inside for New Orleans, but he gave up two pressures and two hits in Week 1 and has been only average as a run-blocker, according to Pro Football Focus. Cesar Ruiz has allowed just two pressures in two games, yet his run blocking has been a major problem; his 42.4 PFF run-blocking grade is the fourth-worst in the NFL among qualifying guards. David Edwards has also struggled, giving up six pressures and a hit while grading out as average in the run game.
For Hemingway, that is the kind of matchup that can turn a solid start into a real statement. He is already living up to the expectations that followed him out of the offseason program and training camp, and Sunday in New Orleans looks like another chance to show that the breakout is for real.
In Other News...
Raiders Rally Around Aidan OConnell During A Heartbreaking Family Moment
Aidan OConnells off-field reality took center stage this week, as the Raiders quarterback shared the news on social media that his father, Jim OConnell, has died. OConnells post included a tribute to his dad and a request for prayers as his family navigates the loss, a deeply personal moment that came with the team still in the middle of its season and OConnell working as Las Vegas third-string quarterback.
For a player who has already been through family hardship before, the response around him has been immediate, with teammates and other players around the league offering support. In a sport that can move quickly from one week to the next, this is the kind of moment that pulls everything back to what matters most, and the Raiders now face the human side of a difficult stretch for one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Secondary Problem They Can't Ignore Vs Saints
Treydan Stukes status has become one of the quieter but more important issues for the Raiders heading into Week 3. He left the Week 2 game early with a concussion, and he has not practiced since as he works through concussion protocol, leaving Las Vegas with a real question in the secondary before facing the New Orleans Saints.
The uncertainty matters because the Raiders are already weighing defensive adjustments if he cannot go. That kind of shuffle can ripple through the back end of the defense, especially this early in the season, and it puts added pressure on the coaching staff to find a workable answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This John Madden Trailer
The legacy of John Madden has never really left Raiders circles. Long before he became one of the most recognizable voices in football and the face of a video game franchise, Madden built his legend in Oakland, where his coaching run helped define one of the franchises most memorable eras. Now that story is moving back into the spotlight, with an upcoming Amazon MGM biopic titled Madden set to trace his life and career, including his collaboration with EA Sports.
For Raiders fans, any project centered on Madden is going to carry extra weight because his name means so much to the teams history and identity. The film stars Nicolas Cage as Madden, and with the first trailer out, the reaction around the Silver and Black figure to be immediate. Madden died at his home in Pleasanton, California, in 2021 at age 85, but his influence still reaches across generations, which is exactly why this movie is likely to stir up plenty of emotion once viewers see where it chooses to focus. [Read more 🡒]