It’s arduous for me to imagine that the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 coaching camp is sort of over as a result of it appears like they had been simply getting began not too way back. However right here we’re, with the Raiders getting ready for his or her third and ultimate preseason sport of the marketing campaign towards the San Francisco 49ers and the league’s cutdown day looming on Sunday, Aug. 30. That additionally means it’s time for my ultimate 53-man roster prediction.
The ‘beforehand’ sections under consult with the e.
Quarterback (2)
Beforehand:
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Fernando Mendoza (R)
Minimize: Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark (R)
Up to date:
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Fernando Mendoza (R)
Minimize: Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark (R)
O’Connell had a a lot better efficiency in final week’s sport than what he confirmed towards the Arizona Cardinals. But when the teaching workers needs to maintain an additional cornerback, or one other participant at a distinct place, then rolling with two quarterbacks will assist make the mathematics work out.
That’s very true since O’Connell is heading right into a contract yr and, ideally, received’t see the sector behind Cousins and Mendoza this season. The most effective case state of affairs for Las Vegas is that AOC has a robust displaying Thursday night time to attract some commerce curiosity forward of cutdown day.
Operating Again (4)
Beforehand:
Starter: Ashton Jeanty
Backups: Mike Washington Jr. (R), Connor Heyward (FB), Dylan Laube
Minimize: Roman Hemby (R), Dare Ogunbowale, Patrick Gurd(R, FB)
Up to date:
Starter: Ashton Jeanty
Backups: Mike Washington Jr. (R), Connor Heyward (FB), Dylan Laube
Minimize: Roman Hemby (R), Dare Ogunbowale, Patrick Gurd(R, FB)
A few housekeeping gadgets right here: I’m lumping the fullbacks in with the operating backs, and I’m penning this earlier than we all know the total extent of Jeanty’s damage. The Raiders seemingly prevented catastrophe with e, however how a lot time he’ll miss is unknown and will alter what number of operating backs the teaching workers needs to start the season with.
Hypothetically, say the 2025 first-round choose has to overlook the primary 4 video games of the yr. Then it would make sense to maintain a veteran again like Ogunbowale round simply in case. Plus, the staff additionally has a query mark at kicker, and Ogunbowale has a %; one-for-one from 29 yards. (That’s a joke…sort of…)
In the meantime, it looks as if Laube established himself because the third operating again with a robust efficiency in Houston final week, and Hemby looks as if a very good candidate for the follow squad.
Extensive Receiver (5)
Beforehand:
Starters: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech
Backups: Malik Benson (R), E.J. Williams (R), Shedrick Jackson
Minimize: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Chase Roberts (R), Dareke Younger, Phillip Dorsett II, Deven Thompkins, Noah Brown, Brandon Johnson
Up to date:
Starters: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech
Backups: Malik Benson (R), Dareke Younger
Minimize: Shedrick Jackson, E.J. Williams (R), Dont’e Thornton Jr., Chase Roberts (R), Phillip Dorsett II, Deven Thompkins, Brandon Johnson
Already Minimize: Noah Brown
To be trustworthy, I’m nonetheless probably not certain who’s going to make the staff at vast receiver. y, stating that he’s “nonetheless wanting” for somebody to step up and be accountable. That’s why I’m shifting to preserving simply 5 wideouts, and the sixth spot may very well be left open for an outdoor rent. It wouldn’t shock me to see the Raiders take a tough take a look at the waiver wire and add a wideout after cutdown day.
Tight Finish (3)
Beforehand:
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Minimize: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunam, Chris Myarick
Up to date:
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Minimize: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunam, Chris Myarick
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, it appears like tight finish is fairly minimize and dry. Bowers and Mayer had been in avenue garments final week—the previous hasn’t performed in any respect within the preseason, for that matter—whereas Thomas can spherical out the group and function a blocking tight finish in 13 or 23 personnel. Additionally, fullback Connor Heyward has some place flexibility if the staff will get in a pinch.
Offensive Line (9)
Beforehand:
Starters: Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze
Backups: Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Atonio Mafi, Trey Zuhn III (R)
Minimize: Dalton Wagner, Will Putnam, Jordan Meredith, Kamar Missouri (R), Justin Pickett (R), Isaiah Jatta (R), Niklas Henning (R), Braeden Daniels
Up to date:
Starters: Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze
Backups: Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Atonio Mafi, Trey Zuhn III (R)
Minimize: Dalton Wagner, Will Putnam, Jordan Meredith, Kamar Missouri (R), Justin Pickett (R), Isaiah Jatta (R), Niklas Henning (R), Braeden Daniels
It appears like there’s just one open roster spot within the trenches for Las Vegas, and it’s a battle between Meredith, Mafi and Putnam. Of the three, Meredith has had the worst preseason to be on the chopping block. In the meantime, Mafi has had points in move safety however has been spectacular within the operating sport, and Putnam’s been the alternative.
Edge (5)
Beforehand:
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce
Backups: Kwity Paye, Keryon Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Minimize: Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson
On IR: Brennan Jackson
Up to date:
Starters: Maxx Crosby,Kwity Paye
Backups: Malcolm Koonce, Keryon Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Minimize: Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson
It’s arduous to go away Johnson off the roster with how nicely he’s performed in the course of the preseason. However the rebuilding Raiders aren’t within the enterprise of rostering a 28-year-old who has regarded good towards backups or linemen on the roster bubble and can be the protection’s fourth edge defender, at finest, this season. Possibly he can stick round as one of many vets on the follow squad, or John Spytek can use the veteran defensive finish as commerce bait.
Defensive Sort out (6)
Beforehand:
Starters: Tonka Hemingway, Adam Butler
Backups: Thomas Booker IV, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues, Folorunso Fatukasi
Minimize: Brandon Cleveland (R), Gary Smith II (R), Treven Ma’ae
Already Minimize: Benito Jones
Up to date:
Starters: Tonka Hemingway, Adam Butler
Backups: Thomas Booker IV, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues, Folorunso Fatukasi
Minimize: Brandon Cleveland (R), Gary Smith II (R), Treven Ma’ae
Defensive sort out is one other place that may fall into the “anybody’s guess” class. Fatukasi has solely been in camp for about two weeks, signing final Friday, however he was the staff’s finest run defender in Houston to earn a roster spot. The 2 rookies—Cleveland and Smith—really feel like they’re destined for the follow squad, however it additionally wouldn’t be stunning to see a shock right here. It’s one other spot the place an outdoor rent may very well be on the desk.
Linebacker (5)
Beforehand:
Starters: Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker
Backups: Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Segun Olubi
Minimize: Xavian Sorey Jr. (R), Buddy Johnson, Cameron McGrone
Up to date:
Starters: Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker
Backups: Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Segun Olubi
Minimize: Xavian Sorey Jr. (R), Buddy Johnson, Cameron McGrone
I haven’t wavered at linebacker all through the preseason, primarily as a result of nobody has given me a purpose to. It looks as if everybody within the place group is fulfilling the expectations that had been set in entrance of them to start camp. The largest query is whether or not the teaching workers needs to maintain a sixth linebacker for particular groups, which is how Johnson may earn a spot.
Cornerback (7)
Beforehand:
Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson
Backups: Hezekiah Lots (R), Jermod McCoy (R), Grasping Vance
Minimize: Decamerion Richardson, Chigozie Anusiem, Caleb Offord (R), Devyn Perkins (R)
Up to date:
Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson
Backups: Hezekiah Lots (R), Jermod McCoy (R), Grasping Vance, Decamerion Richardson
Minimize: Caleb Offord (R), Devyn Perkins (R)
On IR: Chigozie Anusiem
This appears like approach too many cornerbacks, however the math works out if solely two quarterbacks and 5 vast receivers make the 53-man. Plus, it’s a place the place p to justify preserving seven corners. Additionally, Johnson and Vance have gotten some run at security in camp to doubtlessly carry some versatility and contribute at a couple of spots within the secondary.
Security (4)
Beforehand:
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Backups: Treydan Stukes (R), Dalton Johnson (R)
Minimize: Tristin McCollum, Devin Lafayette (R)
Up to date:
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes (R)
Backups: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson (R)
Minimize: Tristin McCollum, Devin Lafayette (R)
McCollum may very well be an fascinating case since he’s the one true backup free security on the roster. If solely six corners make it, he’d be my choose to fill the additional opening. In the meantime, Stukes had a robust outing in Houston and took the entire reps with the beginning protection throughout Monday’s follow whereas Pola-Mao rotated in, in accordance with n.
Specialists (3)
Beforehand:
Punter: AJ Cole III
Kicker: Matt Homosexual
Lengthy snapper: Alex Ward
Minimize: Kansei Matsuzawa (R), Tyler Duzansky (R)
Up to date:
Punter: AJ Cole III
Kicker: Matt Homosexual
Lengthy snapper: Alex Ward
Minimize: Kansei Matsuzawa (R), Tyler Duzansky (R)
There are not any adjustments right here, as Matsuzawa simply additional cemented that Homosexual would be the Raiders’ kicker to start this season with the ‘Tokyo Toe’ lacking a pair of additional factors towards the Texans. And I’m not sufficient of a sicko to even fake like I’ve a pulse on the long-snapper competitors.
