The Las Vegas Raiders begin the 2026 preseason Thursday when they host the Arizona Cardinals with a 5 p.m. PT kickoff.
Let’s look at Raiders’ players we’re excited to see play in the game, presented in alphabetical order:
Jack Bech:
The second-year wide receiver needs to take a big step forward this year after a mostly unproductive rookies season. He has been fairly quiet this training camp. The Raiders need to see progress from Bech and it begins now.
Tonka Hemingway:
The second-year defensive tackle
has been one of the stories of training camp. The fourth-round pick has been getting plenty of reps with the first team in practice and he has responded well. It would be a big boost for the Las Vegas defense if Hemingway is ready for a bigger role. So, it’s important for him to carry his training camp momentum into the preseason.
Fernando Mendoza:
Mendoza has to be on this list. His preseason debut will be watched throughout the league. The No. 1 overall draft pick is probably going to start the season behind Kirk Cousins. But if Mendoza has a great preseason, all bets will be off. Regardless, the Raiders will want to see Mendoza show he’s as comfortable as possible in this game.
Treydan Stukes:
The second-round pick has had a slow start to training game. That’s OK, but progress in the preseason will be needed for the safety to show he can be trusted to have a role as a rookie. So, a lot of eyes will be on Stukes in this game.
Trey Zuhn:
The third-round pick has lived up to his label as being versatile as he has played throughout the offensive line in training camp. He can find himself winning a job somewhere with a good preseason. It will be fun to see how many spots he plays in this game.
There are plenty of of intriguing players to watch in this game for the Raiders. Who are you looking forward to watching Thursday?
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