3 Players Raiders Can't Afford To Lose to Injury in 2026

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a rebuild, and despite all the work they've done this offseason, there's no guarantee it will translate to immediate success. I think they've made all the right decisions with their hirings and signings, but an injury could derail it all.

The Raiders aren't a stranger to a season going off the rails due to injury. Just last season, they had star players like Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers, and Kolton Miller miss significant time in the regular season. Which potential injuries could ruin their 2026 season?

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Potentially Disastrous Injuries

Jermod McCoy

Jermod McCoy is returning punts at Raiders rookie minicamp. pic.twitter.com/JkCxAkwZQY
— Sam Warren (@samwarren83) May 2, 2026

I want to kick off this list by talking about Jermod McCoy, the absolute steal of a defensive prospect the Raiders drafted in the fourth round. The only reason a prospect that talented was available so late was an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season.

Everything looks great so far, but they haven't practiced with pads, and he's yet to experience the rigor of an NFL regular season. He's a rookie, so the impact of this injury could be greater, but it's about the Raiders taking a gamble on his health and losing, which would hurt more.

Ashton Jeanty

Ashton Jeanty was supposed to be a bright spot in an otherwise mundane offense, and while he had his moments, he never took that leap to become a serious contender for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Why a Jeanty potential injury is disastrous is that it leaves the Raiders organization in a precarious position.

He had a disappointing rookie season. If his sophomore season is riddled with injuries or he misses a big chunk of time, they head into the third year of his contract not knowing the caliber of player they drafted so highly. The Raiders' future looks so bright in part because of Jeanty. Not knowing where he fits in their future would be a big blow to them.

Fernando Mendoza

A potential injury to Fernando Mendoza would be the most disastrous, not because they need him to start right away, but because it would alter his development. He needs as much time on the bench as they can afford, as this will be the only time for the foreseeable future that it's acceptable for him to be benched.

They have Kirk Cousins to be their starter to kick off the season, so an injury to Mendoza doesn't mean they have to scramble to get a replacement. However, it would be incredibly disastrous for their future

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