A preseason finale is often the time where roster hopefuls dominate the snap counts and a team’s personnel crew get insight on who to keep and who to cut when NFL teams go from 90-man rosters to the 53-man version for the regular season.
For rookie head coach Klint Kubiak, though, the exhibition slate against the San Francisco 49ers was an opportune time to view his roster as a whole. The first-team offensive line played more than one offensive series, as did assumed starting quarterback Kirk Cousins.
On the opposite side of the ball, the lone missing starter was edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but Rob Leonard’s defense played with a sense of urgency and performed much better than what’s been displayed in the two prior preseason tilts.
Eventually, second- and third-string units joined the fray, but Kubiak getting more work with the first-team units is ample for a neophyte head coach. He along with his coaching staff and general manager John Spytek and his player personnel staff will have their work cut out for them over the weekend as NFL teams must meet the Sunday, 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) deadline to drastically reduce the roster from 90 to 53.
There’s a particular rookie from the Raiders’ 2026 NFL Draft class that’s emphatically made it known they not only will make the roster but also be a regular contributor on offense: Running back Mike Washington Jr. The 6-foot-2 and 228-pound fourth-round pick (122nd overall) from Arkansas showcased the power, speed, and vision throughout the preseason slate as he had eight carries for 49 yards (6.1 yards per carry average) against the 49ers.
Like former Raiders quarterback and current broadcast analyst Rich Gannon astutely pointed out during the preseason finale, Washington will need to showcase the ability to be a trusted pass protector on obvious passing downs and prove he’s an ample route runner and pass catcher out of the backfield (more on this in an upcoming piece later this weekend).
Combining blocking and receiving will make Washington a versatile option to operate in Kubiak’s offense, especially with starting tailback Ashton Jeanty potentially missing games due to an ankle injury to start the regular season. In total, Washington got 23 totes for 168 yards (7.3 yards per carry average) in preseason action and it’ll be intriguing to see the rookie’s production on his touches in the regular season. In fact, Kubiak indicated Friday that Washington will see the field a lot this season even when Jeanty is fully healthy. It will be interesting to see what kind of carry split the two young tailback share this season.
While the offense failed to get into the end zone, seeing Kubiak’s offense being ran efficiently by Cousins portends to good things when games count in the win-loss record.
Still, Kubiak’s beckoning for a wide receiver to step up and make it known they can be a trusted and productive pass catcher remains very much up in the air. There were standout moments from individuals throughout preseason and it appears Tre Tucker is slated to be WR1, but the hierarchy is still in flux. Free agent addition Jalen Nailor made highlight one-handed catch five-yard catch to dazzle but then had a bullet from No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza clang off both his hands for an interception.
Gannon nailed it on the broadcast. The Raiders need a wide receiver to consistently beat man coverage and get separation. That hasn’t happened quite enough. And when it has happened, the throws aren’t snared in.
Let’s hit the Quick Slants as we prepare for regular season action coming September 13 with a home opener against the Miami Dolphins Week 1:
—Veteran Matt Gay took all the kickoffs and field goal attempts in the preseason finale going 4-for-5 with his miss being a wide left attempt from 54 yards out. His counterpart (and former Raider) Eddie Pineiro was a perfect 6-for-6 for the 49ers. The Raiders’ kicking competition wasn’t really one, was it? Undrafted rookie free agent Kansei Matsuzawa didn’t even get a single attempt. Welp, crow takes like chicken.
—Las Vegas does have the top spot in waiver claims and it’ll be interesting to see how Spytek operates come the flurry of roster moves all 32 teams will make to meet the Sunday deadline of getting down to 53. But it doesn’t end there. Come meeting the mandated 53-man roster comes waiver claims and then building out the 16-man practice squad. Matsuzawa could be an exemption 17th member of that squad based on the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
—All four of the Raiders quarterbacks — Cousins, Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell, and undrafted free agent Jacob Clark — each notched a throw against the 49ers. Clark two passes were the first in the preseason slate and it’s likely Las Vegas carries maybe only three or even two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
—Dylan Laube is playing with more confidence on offense, which is a great sign for Las Vegas. The 2024 sixth-round pick rarely saw any offensive snaps the past two season — largely due to his penchant of showcasing butter fingers — has earned carries and receptions including a nifty 12-yard catch-and-run where he slithered between two 49ers defenders for a first down.
—Veteran Patrick Johnson and undrafted free agent Cian Slone present difficult decisions for the Raiders come cut down day. Johnson showed bite as a pass rusher with two sacks in preseason play to go along with run stopping ability and special teams work. Ditto for Slone who showed relentlessness off the edge, too.
—How serious the injury third-round pick Keyron Crawford sustained against the 49ers may dictate both Johnson’s and Slone’s roster chances. Crawford, the 67th overall pick, had a sack in the preseason finale but was injured as he rushed the passer, was brought to the medical tent, and then carted off the field.
—Punter AJ Cole III has been his normally booming self as he sent a trio of boots into orbit for 170 yards (56.7 yards per boot average) with a long of 63 yards. He had one touchback and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line and one of the league’s elite punters is on his A-game already.
