Five things to watch for during Raiders camp this week
On Thursday, the Raiders breezed through a 27-11 win in the Hall of Fame Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. All things considered, the team put out a good product in head coach Josh McDaniels' homecoming in Canton, Ohio, where he played high school football.
With a Week 2 preseason matchup against the Minnesota Vikings looming, here are five things to watch during this week of practice:
Alex Leatherwood and Brandon Parker's battle for tackle
Brandon Parker did not perform up to par Thursday'. Often getting beat by Travon Walker, the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from Georgia, Parker must deliver excellent reps at practice.
Serving as both teammate and opponent to Parker, Alex Leatherwood didn't play well enough to get the nod as starter either. Although Leatherwood showed flashes of dominance, he didn't move the needle. Expect the linemen to split reps at practice.
Is Josh Jacobs here to stay?
Watchers of the Hall of Fame Game were stunned to see Raiders running back Josh Jacobs start. Many speculated Las Vegas was showcasing the fourth-year back for a potential trade.
McDaniels begged to differ, telling the media, "I always think it’s good for backs to carry the ball in the preseason,” per The Athletic. "There’s a lot of things that happen when you’re getting tackled and hit that you can’t simulate in practice."
On Sunday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network added to McDaniels' sentiment, saying, "My understanding is the Raiders are not trading Josh Jacobs."
The Raiders declined Jacobs' fifth-year option, so it will be interesting to see how they handle the ex-Alabama star. The Pro Bowl back's usage in a crowded backfield will be telling during the upcoming week of practice.
Injured Raiders turning healthy
The Raiders may get several players back from injuries, especially on defense.
The return of expected starters would be valued highly, as new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham would get a better idea of what he's working with before the regular season.
The defensive line struggled versus Doug Pederson's O-line, so defensive tackles Johnathan Hankins and Bilal Nichols potentially suiting up will help greatly.
The QB3 race between Chase Garbers and Nick Mullens
Jarret Stidham is the clear-cut backup quarterback behind Pro Bowler Derek Carr. He has a familiarity with McDaniels' system dating to their time in New England.
Behind them are undrafted rookie Chase Garbers and veteran Nick Mullens. They both posted decent numbers in Week 1, but neither wowed fans or the coaching staff. However, Garbers is younger than Mullens, making him a friendly, low-risk signing to either the main roster or the practice squad. Fans should focus on who is receiving the third-string reps at the position during this week's preparation for Minnesota.
The Raiders' sleepers
Lost in the shuffle of big names, Hall of Fame inductions, and a victory, Las Vegas has some hidden gems on the roster.
Versatile defensive back Darius Phillips comes to mind. The former Cincinnati Bengal looks to stick with the Raiders as a kick/punt return specialist. Phillips made a big play on Thursday, knocking the ball loose with a huge hit.
Wideout Tyron Johnson fits the mold as well, possibly being a sneaky speed threat alongside star wide receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. The 6-foot speedster, who dropped a potential TD against the Jags, looks like a good fit in McDaniels' offense. He is competing with receivers Mack Hollins and Keelan Cole.
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