Every rookie cornerback at some point will hit a rough patch. And sadly, cornerback Hezekiah Masses has hit his. Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak responded Monday by reopening the starting job opposite Eric Stokes. Darien Porter should win it back.
Masses started four straight games before Porter played an important role in Sunday's loss to the Patriots. When reporters asked him if they would compete this week, Kubiak gave a simple response.
"I do, I do. Yes." Kubiak said, adding that Porter and Masses "will compete for that job."
Hezekiah Masses’ hot start has cooled off
Masses earned the job the hard way. A fifth-round pick out of California, he made his first start against the Chargers when Porter was out with a foot injury. He intercepted Justin Herbert twice in a 26-14 win and
became the Raiders’ first rookie AFC Defensive Player of the Week since Maxx Crosby in 2019. He grabbed a third interception the next week in New Orleans.
After that Saints game, Kubiak sounded very confident. "He's our starting corner, so he's going to be getting their very best every week," he said. The past two games have tested that confidence.
Against New England, Kyle Williams ran past Masses for a 34-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The Patriots also exploited other coverage problems while the Raiders struggled to pressure Drake Maye. One mistake doesn't erase three interceptions. But Josh Allen and the Bills could punish another blown coverage Sunday.
Darien Porter made his case in a blowout
Porter gave the coaching staff something worthwhile on a rough afternoon.
"I would say that he's a guy that was starting, lost his job for a week, and is so mentally tough that he came back in and played really good football yesterday, and played very competitive," Kubiak said of Porter. "And that's not a surprise, that's the kind of guy that he is. And he's just gonna continue to get better."
The 2025 third-round pick made seven tackles, broke up two passes, and recovered a fumble forced by Adam Butler. He started 10 games as a rookie last season, so the experience gap is real.
Kubiak explained after the Patriots game that rotating both cornerbacks was the game plan. Porter has earned the first opportunity against Buffalo.
Hezekiah Masses still has a future here
Putting Porter back in would not erase Masses’ September. The rookie has proven he can find the football, and he made his outlook clear after the Chargers win.
"I don't really look at depth charts," Masses said in comments published by the Raiders. "It's just, whenever I have the opportunity, I'm just trying to make plays. Whenever they call 35 out there, I'm just trying to make plays."
He should keep getting opportunities. For Sunday, Porter deserves the start. Reward what each cornerback is doing now, not what one did in September.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Competition is back on for Raiders starting cornerback job
