Tag: Raiders training camp 2024

Raiders rookie G Jackson Powers-Johnson to start camp on PUP list

Raiders rookie G Jackson Powers-Johnson to start camp on PUP list with shoulder injury.

We should get the official word on all Raiders players who will not be practicing to start camp on Wednesday before they take the field. But as of now, we know at least one — Rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson.

The second round pick is dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered in senior bowl practices as well as a supposed shoulder issue that had him miss much of offseason practices.

Powers-Johnson participated some in rookie minicamp and was lining up at left guard. While he suited up for mandatory minicamp in June, he saw only limited action while veteran Cody Whitehair took all the snaps at left guard with the first team.

The rookie’s participation at all in minicamp would seem to indicate that they didn’t think the injury was serious. However, if that were the case, you’d expect he would be ready to go for the start of camp. At least if that were still the injury he was dealing with. For that reason, the Raiders sitting him down for the start of camp isn’t great news.

That being said, there’s a lot of time left. For now he still counts on the 90-man roster and no move would need to be made until the cutdown date on August 27. If he is still not ready, they could place him on injured reserve which would have him out at least the first four games of the season.

But let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.

Raiders camp in SoCal is ‘full circle’ moment for head coach, LA native Antonio Pierce

Raiders camp in SoCal is ‘full circle’ moment for LA native Antonio Pierce

This is the 30-year anniversary of the final days of the Los Angeles Raiders. A time Raiders new head coach Antonio Pierce remembers well.

Pierce grew up a Raiders fan. He was four years old when the Silver & Black moved from Oakland to LA. And they were his team for his entire childhood.

In the 30 years since then, the Raiders headed back to Oakland and Pierce embarked on a journey to the NFL and to becoming the head coach of the team he grew up watching.

Then this week, when the team landed in Southern California for training camp — just 30 miles from where Pierce grew up — it all came rushing back to him.

“When the plane hit the tarmac I smiled. It felt good for me to be home,” said Pierce Tuesday as his Raiders team reported to camp.

“Being the head coach of the Raiders is special. Having my first training camp back in Los Angeles, Southern California area is really special to a degree for me because it’s full circle. I grew up watching the Raiders from ‘82 to ‘94 in Los Angeles. And to have the opportunity to bring the organization back here and to do is as a head coach, I’m honored.”

Pierce and the Raiders will be in Costa Mesa for the better part of three weeks. They arrived this week and head back to Las Vegas in 17 days. Through that time it will be a new journey as a head coach combined with the nostalgia of his journey to the pros as an LA Raiders fan.

Raiders announce open training camp practice dates

Raiders announce open training camp practice dates

When the City of Costa Mesa announced the Raiders would be holding their training camp there this season, they said there would be at least some of those practices open to the public. While that turned out not to be the case, the Raiders are stepping up to give the fans in Vegas a chance to see this year’s squad practice.

The team announced Tuesday they will be holding two open practices at Allegiant Stadium in the weeks leading up to their preseason matchups with the Cowboys and 49ers.

Those practices will take place on August 14 and 20.

Both practices will start at 6pm with entry at 5pm.

Tickets are limited, so fans are encouraged to secure theirs as soon as possible. You can get a ticket RIGHT HERE.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Return specialist

New special teams rules makes for a very interesting battle for Raiders return specialists.

Kick returns this season are going to be a whole new experience. One that may require a whole new breed of return specialists. Punt returns should stay relatively the same. But there could still be a battle for who gets that job this season.

The new kickoff rules are such that neither team moves until the ball lands. So, there will be no running start for the coverage team. That means the previous ideas of what a kick returner will look like have changed.

It becomes a new job with a new set of skills that should be more akin to that of a running back than a speedy wide receiver or cornerback as was previously most common. Though some receivers could also thrive in this role. There are a lot of unknowns and therefore a position truly up for grabs.

For that reason, I can’t do a simple player vs player here.

A topic of discussion when the team drafted Dylan Laube in the sixth round of April’s draft was that perhaps his skillset would translate perfectly to the new kick return duties. We shall see.

Second year receiver Tre Tucker would figure to be the favorite for the punt returner job. Others who fielded punts in minicamp included Tyreik McAllister, Ameer Abdullah, Tulu Griffin, DJ Turner, and Nate Hobbs.

My take:

I must say, I don’t have one. Mainly because I don’t think the Raiders have one just yet. The rule is so new that there is a lot still to figure out. Each team’s special teams coordinator will have their own ideas of how to best attack the new rule. Who they like handling those duties will change as their plans change.

In the meantime, special teams may actually be something worth watching in camp and preseason this year. The hope being that there are fewer touchbacks and therefore kick returns become a bigger part of the game than they were before.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Cornerback

One of the cornerback spots is wide open for the Raiders. Is the starter currently on the team?

Outside cornerback was a bit of a revolving door last season. The starters at the beginning of the season were rookie Jakorian Bennett on the left and veteran Marcus Peters on the right. And neither were starting by season’s end.

Four games in, Bennett was benched in favor of Amik Robertson. Then ten games in, Peters was benched for waiver pickup Jack Jones.

Jones played well enough to keep the starting job. Amik Robertson left in free agency, leaving the left side up for grabs this offseason.

As of right now there are two guys competing for the job.

Jakorian Bennett vs Brandon Facyson

The veteran Facyson might have been the starter coming into last season had he not been injured in camp, thus opening the door for Bennett. Now they battle for that spot once again.

The two rotated work with the first team defense during minicamp, with Bennett coming away with a couple interceptions. Bennett has speed to burn while the seventh-year veteran Facyson is more of a proven talent, though only once starting more than four games in a season.

My take:

This competition is far from settled. It could be one of these two or…someone else entirely.

I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time camp begins, there is another name who enters this competition. There are still a few good cornerback options unsigned who would either offer an immediate starter or heat up the competition at that spot. Stephon Gilmore, Adoree Jackson, and Ahkello Witherspoon top that list.

Raiders 2024 camp position battles: Right tackle

The Raiders have to unproven and versatile tackles set to battle for the starting right tackle job this summer.

Ah, right tackle. That position at which the Raiders always seem to be searching for a definitive answer. An annual effort that always seems to fail.

Many thought the new regime would make the right tackle position either their top priority or close to it this offseason. Whether that be in free agency or the draft. That didn’t really happen.

Their top free agent addition came on the defensive line and the top draft picks came at tight end and guard. Leaving right tackle one again a position at which there will be a competition.

Thayer Munford vs DJ Glaze

Munford is a former seventh round pick who has hung around as the team has hoped he would develop into a starter for them. Entering his third season, he appears to have his best shot.

He started nine games last season — five at right tackle and four at left tackle. Appearing to play his best football on the left side, which is why his OL coach recently said Munford is most comfortable on the left side. But that doesn’t mean that’s where he will play. Because it’s more important that they field the two best tackles, and the starting left tackle job belongs to Kolton Miller.

Entering the competition is rookie third round pick DJ Glaze. Glaze played both left and right tackle equally at Maryland, but his immediate job with the Raiders is to compete for the right tackle spot.

Both Munford and Glaze have position versatility, so whoever doesn’t win the right tackle job, can be the team’s reserve swing tackle.

My take:

As of now it’s Munford’s job to lose. And I don’t foresee him losing it before the start of the season. That doesn’t mean he is the long term answer. It means I expect the team to give him at least part of this season to find out if he *can* be the long term answer. If not, then Glaze will get his shot.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Tight end

Two high picks the past two seasons at tight end makes for a heated competition heading into camp for Raiders.

A year ago the Raiders were heading into camp with one of the top tight end prospects in the draft. They had traded up in the second round to select former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer at 35 overall.

Many people thought Mayer was the best tight end in that draft and thus were shocked when he fell into the second round. The Raiders included it would seem. So, they made sure they got him before anyone else could.

Then in last April’s draft they went and shocked the world at 13 overall. Thus setting up quite the camp position battle.

Michael Mayer vs Brock Bowers

Moments after Bowers was selected, people began imagining how he and Mayer would co-exist. Discussions of two tight end sets became commonplace. But there is still only one ball on the field. And there’s the likes of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers to think about as well.

Bowers dominated the SEC the past three years, most expect he will be an immediate star. But you might recall that Mayer also carried some high expectations as an immediate starter and difference-maker and he didn’t exactly cement himself as a surefire star at the tight end spot.

Even if Bowers is a star in the making, there’s no guarantee he will come flaming out the gates. Meanwhile Mayer is hoping to take the second-year leap.

My take:

It’s one thing to trade up in the second round for a guy. It’s entirely another to take a player at 13 overall with glaring needs at other critical positions. It’s also worth noting that Mayer was selected by the previous GM and head coach. So, there’s some pressure to prove Bowers was the right pick. Along with, you assume, is specific plans for him. So, while Mayer will see plenty of snaps, Bowers will be given every opportunity to shine right away.

Raiders projected defensive depth chart heading into camp

Raiders projected defensive depth chart heading into camp

We’ve looked at the projected depth chart for the Raiders offense as we head for camp. Now let’s take a look at how the defense figures to stack up.

DT Christian Wilkins Adam Butler Matthew Butler Tomari Fox Noah Shannon
DT John Jenkins Byron Young Nesta Jade Silvera Marquan McCall
ED Maxx Crosby Jenarious Robinson Ron Stone Jr TJ Franklin Elerson Smith
ED Malcolm Koonce Tyree Wilson Charles Snowden David Agoha
LB Robert Spillane Luke Masterson Tommy Eichenberg Kana’i Mauga
LB Divine Deablo Amari Burney Amari Gainer Fred Thompkins
CB Jack Jones Decamerion Richardson Demarcus Governor Rayshad Williams
CB Jakorian Bennett Brandon Facyson Cornell Armstrong JaQuann Sheppard
SCB Nate Hobbs MJ Devonshire Sam Webb
SS Marcus Epps Christopher Smith II Jaydon Grant Phalen Sanford
FS Tre’von Moehrig Isaiah Pola-Mao Trey Taylor Tyreque Jones

It’s likely the Raiders will use some of their $34 million in cap space to add a player prior to camp. But we can’t base the depth chart on players to be named later. So, going with who they have at present, and what I saw from them in minicamp, this is how I see the depth chart looking come training camp.