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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Set to back up Smith
Mon, Aug 25, 2025, 7:13 PM
Pickett (hamstring) was traded from the Browns to the Raiders on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
Analysis: The Browns had a logam at quarterback, while the Raiders recently lost their projected backup, Aidan O'Connell (wrist,) for at least six weeks. That makes this trade logical for both sides, with Pickett now in line to back up Geno Smith for the Raiders, assuming he is healthy enough to suit up in Week 1. While Pickett has been a disappointment given his first-round pedigree, he should be servicable relative to other backups if called upon. |
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Amari Cooper Amari Cooper Signing with Raiders
Mon, Aug 25, 2025, 4:39 PM
Cooper is signing a one-year deal with the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: On the same day reports surfaced that Jakobi Meyers is seeking a trade, the Raiders move to bolster their wideout depth. Once Cooper is up to speed with the team's offense, he should have an immediate opportunity to make his mark in a pass-catching corps that otherwise features Meyers (for now, at least) and TE Brock Bowers. In six games with the Browns and eight with the Bills in 2024, the 31-year-old -- who the Raiders drafted fourth overall in 2015 -- combined to record a 44-547-4 line on 85 targets. |
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Jakobi Meyers Jakobi Meyers Requests trade
Mon, Aug 25, 2025, 2:25 PM
Meyers has requested a trade from the Raiders, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Analysis: Per Pelissero, after Meyers -- who is due $10.76 million in the last year of his contract -- couldn't agree on an extension with the Raiders, the wideout requested a trade. That said, Rapoport notes that at this stage the team has no plans to deal the 28-year-old, who caught 87 passes in 15 regular-season games in 2024. |
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Aidan O'Connell Aidan O'Connell Expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks
Sun, Aug 24, 2025, 9:52 AM
O'Connell has a fractured right wrist and is likely to miss 6-to-8 weeks, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: O'Connell suffered the injury during Saturday's preseason loss to Arizona. It's the second major injury in as many years for the 2023 fourth-round draft selection, who had a stint on IR last season due to a fractured thumb. O'Connell had been slated to be Las Vegas' No. 2 QB behind Geno Smith, but that role now may go to rookie Cam Smith -- at least for the first several weeks of the regular season -- unless the team acquires another QB in free agency or via trade. |
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Aidan O'Connell Aidan O'Connell Ruled out with wrist injury
Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 10:19 PM
O'Connell won't return to Saturday's preseason game at Arizona due to a right wrist injury, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Analysis: After starting quarterback Geno Smith led the Raiders to a touchdown on their opening possession, O'Connell took over the offense for two drives of his own, one in which he lost a fumble and the other that resulted in a successful Daniel Carlson field goal. Per Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com, O'Connell then went to the locker room before being ruled out. Cam Miller entered the contest in place of O'Connell. |
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Raheem Mostert Raheem Mostert Active in passing game Saturday
Sat, Aug 16, 2025, 8:30 PM
Mostert gained nine yards on three carries in a preseason loss to the 49ers on Saturday. He added three receptions on four targets for 16 yards.
Analysis: Mostert logged fewer carries and yards than both Ashton Jeanty (7-33-1) and Chris Collier (4-26-0), but he led all Raiders running backs in targets, catches and receiving yards. He's never been a prolific receiver out of the backfield, but he may need to do more of that work this season to be at all productive with Jeanty likely to be a workhorse back for the Raiders. As it stands, Mostert is not guaranteed to be the team's No. 2 RB -- Zamir White and Sincere McCormick are also vying for that role. |
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Jakobi Meyers Jakobi Meyers Catches lone target in loss to SF
Sat, Aug 16, 2025, 8:11 PM
Meyers nabbed his only target for four yards in a preseason loss against the 49ers on Saturday.
Analysis: After going catchless in Las Vegas' first exhibition contest against Seattle last Thursday, Meyers managed to haul in his only target Saturday. While the veteran wideout is lined up for a WR1 role with the Raiders, he's not expected to be the team's top option in the passing game -- that distinction will likely go to second-year tight end Brock Bowers. Meyers had the best regular season of his career last year with 87 receptions for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns, but his ability to replicate those numbers in 2025 will likely depend upon how much chemistry he has with new QB Geno Smith as well as how much the Raiders lean on their running game, which will be led by talented rookie Ashton Jeanty. |
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Geno Smith Geno Smith Efficient in exhibition loss
Sat, Aug 16, 2025, 8:03 PM
Smith went 6-for-8 for 55 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Saturday's preseason defeat against San Francisco.
Analysis: Smith played just one drive in Las Vegas' preseason opener against the Seahawks on Aug. 7, but he doubled that amount Saturday, playing into the early part of the second quarter. The veteran QB led his team to two scores -- a 41-yard Daniel Carlson field goal and a one-yard Ashton Jeanty touchdown. Notably, Smith connected on a 28-yard pass play with Brock Bowers on the Raiders' first offensive snap, perhaps signaling strong chemistry between the quarterback and his top option through the air. Smith isn't the flashiest of signal-callers, but he represents a significant upgrade at the position for Las Vegas after the team made do with a combination of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell under center last year. |
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Brock Bowers Brock Bowers Nabs lone target in preseason loss
Sat, Aug 16, 2025, 7:52 PM
Bowers caught his only target for 28 yards in an exhibition loss to the 49ers on Saturday.
Analysis: Bowers logged only one offensive snap in Las Vegas' first preseason contest Aug. 7, but he got more run against San Francisco. The second-year tight end's lone catch was a beauty -- he went up for a heave from Geno Smith that was contested by a 49ers defender and came down with the ball for a 28-yard gain. After setting an NFL rookie record with 112 receptions last year, Bowers figures to be Smith's top target in 2025, and he's arguably fantasy's most alluring tight-end option. |
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Ashton Jeanty Ashton Jeanty Scores TD in second preseason game
Sat, Aug 16, 2025, 7:43 PM
Jeanty rushed seven times for 33 yards and a touchdown and added one catch on one target for two yards in Saturday's exhibition loss to San Francisco.
Analysis: Jeanty tallied minus-1 yard on three carries in his preseason NFL debut against the Seahawks on Aug. 7, but he looked significantly better against the 49ers. The rookie out of Boise State ripped off a team-high 13-yard run on his fifth carry and finished that same drive with a one-yard push into the end zone. Overall, Jeanty averaged 4.7 yards per rush attempt, showcasing the promise the Raiders saw when they drafted him sixth overall in April's NFL Draft. He's set to lead Las Vegas' running back corps out of the gate and is consistently being taken late in the first round of fantasy drafts. |
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Geno Smith Geno Smith Larger load expected vs. SF
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 3:45 PM
Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Smith and the starters are "gonna play quite a bit" in Seattle's second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 16, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Analysis: Smith played only one drive in Vegas' first preseason game Thursday, which finished in a 23-23 tie against the Seahawks. It sounds like he'll have a more extended opportunity to work alongside Vegas' top pass catchers, including Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, in the team's second preseason game. |
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Dont'e Thornton Dont'e Thornton Earns start in pro debut
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 11:35 AM
Thornton caught one of three targets for 17 yards in Thursday's 23-23 preseason tie against the Seahawks.
Analysis: Thornton drew the start at wide receiver in 11-personnel next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, notably playing ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech on the outside. However, Thornton was unable to haul in two of his three targets, and the fourth-round Tennessee product was penalized on an offensive offside as well. Nonetheless, Thornton's involvement with the first-team unit bodes well for his viability as a late-round dart throw in deeper leagues and best ball formats, especially given his 4.30 40-yard dash speed on a 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame. |
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Jack Bech Jack Bech Falling behind in WR competition
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 11:21 AM
Bech caught one of two targets for five yards in Thursday's 23-23 preseason tie against the Seahawks.
Analysis: Despite being selected 58th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Bech was rumored to be facing an uphill battle for the No. 2 role at wide receiver throughout the early stages of training camp, and Thursday's preseason opener confirmed that suspicion considering Tre Tucker and fellow rookie Dont'e Thornton drew the start next to Jakobi Meyers in 11-personnel. The speed of Tucker and Thornton allow them to play on the boundary, while Bech's skill set and preferred route tree is a bit redundant with those of Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers. Therefore, playing time could be limited for the second-round TCU product early in 2025. |
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Tre Tucker Tre Tucker Earning No. 2 WR role
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 10:54 AM
Tucker caught his only target for 15 yards in Thursday's 23-23 preseason tie against the Seahawks.
Analysis: Tucker was targeted by quarterback Geno Smith on the first play from scrimmage, but shortly thereafter, the pair was included among the starters that were pulled following the Raiders' opening drive. It was a promising sign for Tucker, who appears favored to earn the No. 2 role at wide receiver next to Jakobi Meyers, notably landing ahead of both rookies Dont'e Thornton and Jack Bech in the current pecking order. Tucker paced this position group in offensive snaps for Las Vegas last season, though it resulted in a pedestrian 47-539-3 receiving line on 81 total targets. |
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Michael Mayer Michael Mayer Making noise at camp
Thu, Aug 7, 2025, 8:33 AM
Mayer has been a standout of the early portion of Las Vegas' training camp, Ryan McFadden of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Mayer's room for growth and involvement in the Raiders offense are severely capped due to the presence of second-year standout Brock Bowers, who McFadden also notes has displayed one of the most dynamic connections with new quarterback Geno Smith of all Las Vegas' offensive personnel. That said, Mayer himself said earlier this offseason that he expects to have a significant role in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's system, per Michael Canelo of SI, and there's room for the team to increase its usage of two-TE sets. The Raiders were also reportedly shopping Mayer as a trade candidate early in the offseason, and if the 2023 second-round pick is able to flash during preseason action, beginning Thursday night at Seattle, he could reignite such conversations around the league. |
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Geno Smith Geno Smith Starters will play Thursday
Tue, Aug 5, 2025, 12:48 PM
Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that "everyone will be ready to go" when asked whether Las Vegas' starters will suit up for Thursday's preseason opener against the Seahawks, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.
Analysis: Smith, who signed a two-year extension with the Raiders this offseason shortly after being traded to the team by Seattle, will take the field wearing silver and black for the first time Thursday. The 34-year-old boasts an exciting supporting cast in Las Vegas, with second-year phenom TE Brock Bowers, rookie RB Ashton Jeanty and veteran wideout Jakobi Meyers as the headliners, though wideouts Tre Tucker, Dont'e Thornton and Jack Bech all have the potential to emerge as contributors. It remains to be seen whether Smith and the starting offense will handle more than a handful of drives Thursday, but it will be interesting to see the veteran QB in action alongside his new personnel group. |
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Albert Okwuegbunam Albert Okwuegbunam Catches on with Las Vegas
Sun, Aug 3, 2025, 5:02 PM
The Raiders signed Okwuegbunam on Sunday.
Analysis: Okwuegbunam was let go by the Colts on Thursday, but he'll have another opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster after inking a deal with the Raiders. Okwuegbunam last saw regular-season action in 2023 with the Eagles, when he appeared in four games and failed to haul in his lone target. The 2020 fourth-rounder will compete with Justin Shorter, Ian Thomas and Michael Mayer for backup tight end duties behind Brock Bowers. |
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Brock Bowers Brock Bowers Returns to practice
Sat, Aug 2, 2025, 2:35 PM
Bowers (undisclosed) is practicing Saturday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It's not clear what caused Bowers to miss practice Friday, but it's possible he was just getting a rest day. Now that he's back at practice, fantasy managers should have no concerns about his status moving forward. Bowers has been the top tight end off the board in fantasy drafts after recording an NFL rookie record for receptions with 112 while accumulating 1,194 receiving yards and five touchdowns last year. |
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Brock Bowers Brock Bowers Doesn't practice Friday
Fri, Aug 1, 2025, 4:54 PM
Though Bowers (undisclosed) was present for practice Friday, he didn't participate in the session, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: At this stage, there's been no report of an injury in play, so it's possible that Friday was simply a rest day for Bowers. As the coming season approaches, the 2024 first-rounder is bound to remain a focal point of a Raiders passing attack now helmed by QB Geno Smith, with the tight end out of Georgia currently viewed as the consensus No. 1 option at his position in fantasy rankings. |
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Dont'e Thornton Dont'e Thornton Working with first-team unit
Wed, Jul 23, 2025, 6:47 PM
Thornton continued to get first-team reps as training camp got underway for the Raiders on Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton saw work with the first-team during the team's mandatory minicamp in mid-June. The wide receiver continued to work with starting quarterback Geno Smith and the top unit Wednesday, joining the group whenever the offense was in 11 personnel. Thornton ran an impressive 4.30-second 40-yard dash time at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which makes sense considering he averaged 25.4 yards per catch as a vertical threat in his final season of collegiate action with Tennessee in 2024. The wide receiver will likely have every shot to carve out a consistent role for himself with the Raiders in 2025. |
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