Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) tackles defensive tackle Thomas Booker (99) as defens ...
Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) tackles defensive tackle Thomas Booker (99) as defensive tackle Gary Smith III (75) runs past during an NFL football training camp practice at the team’s headquarters on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Henderson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
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Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) stretches during an NFL football training camp practi ...
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The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t practice Sunday, pausing their position battles as training camp continues in advance of the Sept. 13 opener against the Miami Dolphins.
With the exhibition season starting Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium, here’s a 53-man roster projection — subject to change throughout the preseason:
Quarterbacks (3)
In: Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell
Out: Jacob Clark
Sharp and accurate through eight practices — amid his suspension Saturday from the team portion of practice following his Friday dustup with star defensive end Maxx Crosby — Cousins presumably remains on track to start Week 1 at Allegiant Stadium. Mendoza has been steady with the second team, bouncing back from his downs with ups and sharply leading the first team Saturday with poise, proficiency and Cousins watching. O’Connell has made his share of pinpoint throws. Clark isn’t getting any reps.
Running backs (5)
In: Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale, Connor Heyward
Out: Roman Hemby
Jeanty is blending speed and power with soft hands out of the backfield, deftly fielding passes from Cousins in addition to running with vision and force. Washington runs with power and purpose, bringing more size to the backfield than Jeanty. Laube changes pace and plays special teams, as does Ogunbowale with a veteran presence. Heyward’s fullback position is key in parts of coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. Hemby could catch on with the practice squad, having had his moments in practice.
Receivers (5)
In: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Malik Benson, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr.
Out: Phillip Dorsett II, Shedrick Jackson, Brandon Johnson, Chase Roberts, Deven Thompkins, E.J. Williams Jr., Dareke Young
Nailor and Tucker have settled in as the top two perimeter receiving targets. Benson has settled with the second team and filled in with the first team as a sixth-round rookie. He also profiles as a potential punt returner. Bech and Thornton — out for practice Saturday after leaving the previous two practices early — remain developmental prospects as 2025 draft picks. Bech has started to catch a rhythm following a slow start to camp. Young was a key special teamer last season for the Seattle Seahawks, for whom Kubiak was the offensive coordinator. Jackson, Johnson, Roberts, Thompkins and Williams have made their fair share of plays with second and third teams when called upon.
Tight ends (3)
In: Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Out: Patrick Gurd, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., Carter Runyon
Bowers has been uncoverable in camp and remains the team’s top receiving threat. Mayer had a “busted” nose, per Kubiak, and missed a practice, but is catching a groove as a complement to Bowers. He said last week he likes the idea of stressing defenses with two tight-end sets. Gurd and Okwuegbunam haven’t much flashed. Runyon has missed several practices consecutively.
Offensive linemen (9)
In: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Tyler Linderbaum, Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Caleb Rogers, Spencer Burford, Trey Zuhn III
Out: Will Putnam, Atonio Mafi, Justin Pickett, Niklas Henning, Isaiah Jatta, Kamar Missouri, Dalton Wagner
Miller and Glaze are holding down the tackle spots. Linderbaum has settled at center as Burford has at left guard. Powers-Johnson worked with that group for the first several practices at right guard, but started sharing reps last week with Rogers. Meredith’s versatility (playing center and guard) gives him the inside track over Putnam, a center. Zuhn has been repping across the offensive line with developmental positionality. Grant is getting better as a second-year swing tackle. Mafi, Pickett, Henning, Jatta, Missouri and Wagner are playing their part and auditioning for the practice squad.
Defensive linemen/edge rushers (11)
In: Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce, Brennan Jackson, Keyron Crawford, Thomas Booker IV, Adam Butler, Tonka Hemingway, Benito Jones, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues
Out: Brandon Cleveland, Treven Ma’ae, Gary Smith III, Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson, Cian Sloane
Crosby hasn’t missed a beat upon returning from his torn left meniscus, having his way with speed and force. Paye has been in and out of practice but holds down the first team on the edge with Crosby. Koonce and Jackson have filled in with the first team. Crawford is developing as a rookie third-found draft pick. Hemingway is effective leading a tackle rotation that includes Butler, Laulu, Jones and Pegues. Sloane has had the occasional first-team rep as an undrafted rookie and could catch on with the practice squad. Cleveland could too as a seventh-round rookie. Ma’ae was on the practice squad last year. Harvey and Johnson are special teamers. Smith is an undrafted free agent.
Linebackers (4)
In: Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg
Out: Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone, Buddy Johnson, Xavier Sorey Jr.
Dean (Philadelphia Eagles) and Walker (Green Bay Packers) were valued free-agent acquisitions and look the part in the middle of the defense. Eichenberg and Lindenberg have handled second-team reps as Olubi, McGrone, Johnson and Sorey are competing when called upon, but haven’t pushed the top two units.
Defensive backs (10)
In: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Hezekiah Masses, Taron Johnson, Jermod McCoy, Decamerion Richardson, Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson
Out: Greedy Vance, Caleb Offord, Devin Lafayette, Chigozie Anusiem, Tristin McCollum, Devyn Perkins
Stokes remains the team’s top corner and is mostly sticky in coverage so far. Porter and Masses are battling for the starting spot opposite Stokes, splitting first-team reps. Johnson was signed as a slot corner but is repping at safety. McCoy is playing with secondary units as he works his way back from his torn right ACL. Richardson has repped some with the first team amid an active camp. Chinn can play close to the line of scrimmage or farther away at the safety spot. Pola-Mao remains active with the first team, for which Stukes is starting to sprinkle in reps. Johnson is developing as a fifth-round draft pick. Vance and Offord have made plays and could make their way onto the practice squad. Lafayette, Anusiem, McCollum and Perkins have played on secondary and tertiary units.
Specialists (3)
In: AJ Cole, Matt Gay, Alex Ward
Out: Kansei Matsuzawa, Tyler Duzansky
Gay has been more accurate than Matsuzawa and has the inside track toward the kicker spot. Ward has been snapping with Gay. Cole remains one of the NFL’s best punters.
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.