Jeanty ankle leads Raiders depth chart questions

Washington sits directly behind Jeanty

Washington has rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries through two preseason games. He broke a 53-yard run against Arizona, then finished with 56 yards on nine carries against Houston.

Klint Kubiak said after Thursday’s 22-20 comeback win that Washington is beginning to create opportunities for himself. His emergence matters even more while Jeanty’s status remains uncertain.

Washington has averaged 7.9 yards per carry during the preseason. More importantly, he has shown the explosive running ability that first stood out during training camp.

“When guys have success, they carve out roles, and that’s where he’s headed,” Kubiak said after the Houston game.

The Raiders still have Dylan Laube, Roman Hemby and Dare Ogunbowale behind Washington. However, Washington has done the most on the field to strengthen his position before the regular season.

Mendoza remains QB2

The updated chart also keeps Fernando Mendoza behind Kirk Cousins and ahead of Aidan O’Connell.

That order is notable after an uneven night in Houston. Mendoza started and finished 8-of-15 for 86 yards with an interception that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown.

O’Connell then played the second half and led a 19-point comeback. His final possession covered 96 yards before he scored the winning touchdown with 14 seconds remaining.

Still, the Raiders have consistently treated Mendoza’s preseason work as part of a larger development plan. Tyler Linderbaum said Monday that progress continues to show up in areas beyond the box score.

“Seeing the growth in his command and operation is a good starting point,” Linderbaum said. “I know he isn’t where he wants to be, but he has been fun to work with.”

Linderbaum also pointed to Mendoza’s communication in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. Those responsibilities have been a major part of the rookie’s adjustment to an NFL offense.

Ian Thomas offered another encouraging assessment. He said Mendoza’s confidence is “through the roof” and praised his willingness to correct mistakes quickly.

Young corners move toward real roles

The defensive depth chart provides another indication that Las Vegas plans to rely on several young defensive backs.

Darien Porter is listed with the first group at cornerback, with Hezekiah Masses behind him. Jermod McCoy is listed behind Eric Stokes and Decamerion Richardson at another corner spot.

Leonard said the group improved after a difficult preseason opener against Arizona. Houston finished with only 219 total yards, while Las Vegas produced three sacks and two takeaways.

“I thought the coverage was sticky today,” Leonard said. “We can’t get these young guys enough reps in the next game. They’re all going to be part of us winning games this year.”

The next step is consistency. Leonard said young defensive backs cannot allow one completion or mistake to become two bad plays in a row.

That makes Thursday’s preseason finale against San Francisco another valuable test as the Raiders make their final roster evaluations.

Johnson keeps pushing from deeper on the chart

Patrick Johnson has been one of the Raiders’ most productive defenders during the preseason, but the depth chart shows the competition still in front of him.

Johnson is listed behind Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce and Jahfari Harvey at defensive end. Still, his recent production has given the coaching staff more to consider.

Johnson recorded a sack and two tackles for loss against Houston. He also forced the third-quarter fumble that Gary Smith III recovered, helping spark the comeback.

Leonard called Johnson instinctive, tough and smart Monday.

“I think his play speaks for itself,” Leonard said.

Johnson joined Las Vegas after many teammates had already spent months learning the system. He said catching up has required additional study beyond normal practice hours.

“Anytime I’ve asked for extra time, we’ve stayed in the building until 7 or 8 at night, studying,” Johnson said. “Then I go home and study more so I can come back the next day prepared.”

Special teams could also help Johnson earn a place. He said that phase has provided much of his NFL experience and remains an area where he believes he can contribute.

Final week brings clearer stakes

The unofficial depth chart does not settle the Raiders’ remaining competitions. It does provide a clearer picture of where several important evaluations stand before the preseason finale.

Jeanty’s health now sits at the top of the list. Behind him, Washington is strengthening his case for a meaningful role, while Mendoza remains QB2 despite O’Connell’s comeback in Houston.

Meanwhile, Porter, Masses and McCoy are moving toward regular-season responsibilities in the secondary. Johnson is trying to force his way into a crowded defensive end rotation.

The Raiders have one preseason game left to gather information. For several players, Thursday against San Francisco represents one final chance to change what the depth chart looks like when the games begin to count.