Raiders Training Camp Report 24: Finishing Strong for the Future

HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders are coming down the stretch toward the finish of 2026 training camp, and to use an old Vegas adage, “The price of poker is going up,” with just three practices left.

GM John Spytek has given Raider Nation genuine hope in how he is undertaking the franchise's reformation and attacking the future.

Raiders Players vs. Arizona | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

This Raiders rebuild is built on proven football intelligence, long-term thinking, and thorough strategy.

Where the Team Stands

Klint Kubiak was the clear choice for this job through the prism of what Spytek wanted, and after the team’s critical second preseason game versus the Houston Texans, he let the fans in on his thinking as it relates to all things Raiders.

What Was Gained or Learned in Houston

Going against a team that all reasonable parties see as an NFL playoff-caliber franchise, and many see as a Super Bowl contender, can either make or break a team. It was a highly productive three days, and Kubiak agreed.

"Oh yeah. Well, I'm so glad we got the practice against them. That was really important for our team to spend that time in Houston and get some really good work against a different scheme and a really good coaching staff."

Aug 13, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) prepares to take the snap behind center Trey Zuhn III (66) and guard Caleb Rogers (76) against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Caleb Rogers in particular, he just needs to continue to get reps as a young player to improve. He has all the talent that you're looking for. We’ve just got to keep getting him better. I like how he works, like the kind of teammate that he is, and he has a bright future ahead of him."

Sorry, Not Sorry

DE Maxx Crosby is an elite player, an unblockable force of nature who wreaks havoc on everything he touches on the football field. So, does Kubiak see him taking his first action all preseason versus the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday? Here’s a hint: No!

"I think all players need the reps. I'm not going to be giving him any though."

Don’t Overlook AOC

Aidan O’Connell has suffered more than any other player from the inconsistency and instability of this franchise over his career. Kubiak understands this, values the asset that Aidan O’Connell is, and thinks it is time for others to follow suit.

Coach Kubiak: "That's a great point. I think we've said all offseason how much we value Aidan [O'Connell], and what a heck of a second half. He goes out and leads us to 19-point half and two 90-plus yard drives in the fourth quarter. He did it with his teammates, but he was a big part of it and was very happy for him."

A Young Defensive Backfield

I projected in my last 53-man roster article that the Silver and Black will keep 10 defensive backs. Four safeties and six cornerbacks. I still feel that way, and with 60% of those ten being young players (rookies, first- or second-year), and four of them (40%) being actual rookies, Kubiak understands the youth movement he is leading.

That said, he sees the strides made in Houston and a promising future ahead.

Treydan Stukes | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

“As far as the secondary, overall, as a defense, I thought we took a step forward last night. I think we’ve got a lot of good work in the joint practice covering some new guys, and those guys need another game under their belt against San Francisco to continue to get better."

The Rook’s on the Radar

NFL executives swooned over Fernando Mendoza coming out of Indiana in the last NFL Draft, and he is even more impressive today than he was then. No one in this organization, on or off the record, has done anything but appreciate him or his skill set.

With that, Kubiak knows he is only in the early stages of his career, is mature beyond his age, and is getting better after a tough game in Houston.

"I think if you sat in our quarterback meeting the night before the game, listened to him go through his progressions and reads and adjustments, I was very impressed with how prepared he has made himself. That whole quarterback room, led by Coach [Mike] Sullivan and Andrew [Janocko], have done an excellent job of being prepared. I was pleased with watching the tape."

"I really like what he did on third down. We were only one of five on third down in the first half. However, we did drop the ball twice, and we threw one short of the sticks on third-and-long. He had really good ball placement on the first third down of the game with a guy in his face. So, in the critical downs, I thought he was playing his best. There are things that we must get corrected that will be addressed ASAP."

Eyes Can Deceive, Film Is Factual

Kubiak has a vision from the field as a head coach, but as a film junkie, a lot stands out on tape that you can’t see from the field. So I asked him, after watching the film, what he noticed that maybe didn't stand out from the field.

"Well, resilience. The resilience sticks out because we shot ourselves in the foot. We had nine penalties, five on special teams. The first half was atrocious."

"We started slow on both sides of the ball, and in the NFL, it's all about winning the game. And so, we gutted it out and found a way to win, and that's how this whole season's going to be. All these games come down to the wire, and you get to learn a lot about players in practice, but you learn a whole lot more, and when the live bullets are flying in a game, and I learned a lot about guys in a good way last night."

Give Me That Back!

One mantra of the Raiders organization this offseason is the need for the defense to get the ball back not just through stops, but through takeaways. In Houston, they had two strip sacks and two takeaways. Kubiak addressed that and assessed his defense as well.

"As a team, being plus one in the turnover margin, that's how you win games. So, with Rob [Leonard] taking it away, with our offense protecting the ball, that's how you win. You've obviously got to score, but you've got to, you got to win the turnover battle. That was a huge part of the game."

Klint Kubiak, Mike Mc Coy | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

Stingy Reps Require Creativity

I have maintained, since before training camp, the importance of getting young players reps. As camp progressed and you transition to the regular season, there are fewer and fewer reps for young players not on the first string.

Kubiak pulled back the curtain on the reality of reps getting cut, and getting his rookie QB and other young players quality reps as they tighten up now.

Klint Kubiak | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

"Yeah, it's a great point, and as to God's honest truth, you're right. We have experience as coaches on developing guys when they're not starting a game if they don't start a game. So, it's staying early, leaving late. It's using some technological tools at your disposal, but it's really a lot of Coach [Mike] Sullivan spending some early mornings and long nights with Fernando [Mendoza] and Aidan [O'Connell]."

"But then you can build in young guy reps into your practices. There are things you can do. It's never as good as getting all the reps in practice, but you do the best you can with what you got."

No Coddling the Rook

Fernando Mendoza is coming from a completely different offensive scheme at Indiana, and one thing people wondered about him in the NFL is the game-defining pre-snap read that separates the good from the bad. Kubiak didn’t mince words when evaluating the rookie.

"Yeah, well, he got us a penalty on the second play of the game. I was not happy with the cadence, so we've got to get better there."

Raiders Quarterbacks: Training Camp 2026 | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

Three QBs on the 53-Man

I have said that since they signed QB Kirk Cousins, barring a trade offer that makes it mandatory that they move him, the team is expected to carry three QBs on the 53-man roster. I detailed it in my pre-training camp roster position preview. Kubiak discussed it in detail on Friday.

May 28, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Those guys are going to make us make hard decisions, which is a great thing, that competition. We're talking through it. It's part of the discussion."

"Yeah, it helps a lot. These game reps are the most valuable ones that we can use. It's not just the defensive tape, but how they're performing on special teams, because so many guys in those positions have to prove their worth on teams. Guys that we can trust. So, it was very helpful for many guys."

Consider Kubiak’s Fire Lit

Kubiak is a blunt truth-teller who holds everyone to the standard he holds himself to, and coaches to. He won’t tolerate a lack of discipline and stupid unforced penalties. He hasn’t been thrilled to see so many (nine versus Houston) and wasn’t afraid to call anyone and everyone out. How do you fix it, coach?

"Holding guys accountable, working, drilling things that we didn't do as well. For instance, a back block on Roman Hemby, educating guys better on the rules. We got D-Cam [Decamerion Richardson], made a costly error running out of bounds."

May 20, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) and cornerback Darien Porter (26) warm up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"I know that's things that we coach them on every day, but we do have a lot of young guys that you can't take anything for granted. So, we put it on ourselves as coaches number one, with how we educate them, what we're practicing, what we're drilling, and it's on us, as coaches, to get it fixed.”

He kept going, “I don't know if I've seen that many special teams penalties in a game, and you look at the guys that are committing these penalties, and these are some younger guys, and it's not acceptable. So, we have to get it fixed defensively. We get a stop on third down, we taunt a guy and let them stay on the field. Unacceptable. One was a face mask defensively. It's two weeks in a row that, as a coaching staff, we've got substitution penalties. Unacceptable.”

The 'Berg' Brothers Are Shining

Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg are two ILBs that round out the most solidified position on the defensive roster. Along with Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, those two young players are standouts and a glimpse into the Raiders' future.

I asked Kubiak about the “Berg” brothers, and he didn’t hold back on his praise for the camp they have given him.

Las Vegas Raiders Tommy Eichenberg | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

"I love the depth. I love what they bring to the special teams aspect. Those are two guys I know that when called upon, are going to play solid football for us. Both guys have been practicing really well. Cody [Lindenberg] made a great interception in practice the other day, but those are two guys that we're really counting on this year."

Ouch! Reality Hurts

The Raiders' wide receiver room coming into camp was the weakest link on the offense, and it remains so even today. Nothing revealed it more than three days in Houston against a powerful Texans team. Kubiak pulled no punches in a blunt, painful admission of “still looking,” which should have been a clarion call to his UDFA hidden gems in EJ Williams and Chase Roberts.

"Yeah, I learned a lot in that we have to get a lot better very fast. That we took a step backwards; doesn't mean we can't go forward. But right now, we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking."

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