Losers

John Simpson

The Raiders second-year guard started the game and had a chance to make an impact, but he almost ruined the party at Allegiant on the first drive of the game. Simpson was beaten on a blitz, leading to a QB sack. It’s just one play, but Simpson got pushed around on other instances, too.

His fellow lineman, offensive tackle Brandon Parker, also was in the area on the allowed sack, but Parker isn’t pushing to start as Simpson was, albeit barely. Now, his chance to run with the “ones” has been sizably reduced.

Jalen Richard

Richard didn’t suit up, and that could be a problem for the Raiders veteran third-down running back. Ragas and RB B.J. Emmons looked fantastic, especially in the first half of the game.

Plus, those running backs offer something different than the diminutive Richard, who specializes in catching the football out of the backfield. Ragas and Emmons both look skilled at running between the tackles.

Additionally, the Raiders signed RB Kenyon Drake in the offseason, and his strength is catching the football, just like Richard. Add it all together, and Richard just may become expendable unless he suits up in the coming weeks and reminds Gruden why he’s a keeper.

The Raiders made progress on Saturday night. It was incremental, but clearly there. Gruden’s offense probably should have scored more points, having moved the ball so much. But that’s a problem for a different day. The first game at Allegiant Stadium is in the books, and though it was just an exhibition, it’s a game that will go down in history for Las Vegas and the NFL.

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