Raiders Training Camp Report 26: Pressure Rises As Regular Season Looms

HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders wrapped up their second of three practices this week moments ago, ahead of the final preseason game on Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL 53-man roster cut-down on Sunday.

With so much on the line as the regular season looms, we have the details and developments surrounding your Silver and Black in our 26th training camp report.

John Spytek, Mike McCoy | Darrell CraigHarris, On SI

The Team

The Raiders, as individuals, rookies, and veterans, have shown a lot and did so again today. Still, they continue to give glimpses to their amazing fan base, who see their fandom as part of their identity and what they are becoming.

Mark Davis | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

1. Very few jobs are settled on this roster. With only one preseason game left and one practice before Sunday’s cut-down day, DC Rob Leonard says players are still competing, a regular theme for Kubiak.

“Not as much ones and twos, but the players are aware and we're aware of where the competition is at, regardless of who's starting or who is not. There's some competitive position groups, without declaring. I mean, until we take the field, that’s still never ending. But they’re well aware of who’s competing and how important special teams is. It’s everything with these guys.”

Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek, and minority owner Tom Brady | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

2. 13 personnel is now in fashion with the Silver and Black. We know that Kubiak is an offensive genius, and TE Ian Thomas bragged about his coach’s play-designing and calling acumen.

"Oh, it's fun. It's fun when you can get three tight ends out there, obviously, and we try to pick each other up and encourage guys to keep going so we can keep three tight ends in the game. You can build that trust in us in the offense and the team build the trust in that tight end room. So, we've been trying to make it happen every day so we can keep getting chances."

John Spytek, Mark Davis | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

3. The Raiders' special teams were terrible last year. I lay that at the feet of Pete Carroll, but Kubiak has prioritized that part of the game. I asked special teams savant Thomas about this team’s commitment to the previously under-prioritized part of the game.

"You're talking about the 25-minute period yesterday? It's good. Time on task. They say, ‘To be great at something, you need a lot of time on task.’ That’s what he's doing, and I love it. The more you can see all of these different looks, the better and more confident you feel. You don't feel rushed, you don't feel a lot of pressure.”

Klint Kubiak | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

Thomas added, “So, Joe D [Joe DeCamillis] is putting a lot of guys in crazy positions. He's seen a bunch of different stuff from around the league, and he's coached a while. He's seen a lot of stuff, and you never doubt when someone like that tells you what to do, and you're like, 'Well, he knows something.' It's good to get the younger guys to actually acknowledge that part of it."

The Rookies

With a team that I project will carry as many as 12 and as few as eight rookies on that final 53-man squad, combined with multiple second- and third-year players, the future is very bright. Here are some rookie reports after today’s practice.

QB Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders' No. 1 overall pick, who had NFL executives raving about him during the 2026 NFL Draft process, had his worst day as a Raider on Monday. But today he rebounded like the champion he is, and the young man looked sharp and poised. TE Ian Thomas broke down what he saw from his fellow Indiana Hoosier.

Aug 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) on the field during the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"His confidence is through the roof, and I love it. The guys are always right behind him, pushing him to go forward. He's a number one overall, so you expect a lot out of him. But it's not easy going into a pro team, a pro level and making a splash right away. So, the more we can do to encourage him to do better, is better for us. He's been coming along real good, and everyone loves it. So yeah, like I said, he's an IU guy, and I love that too."

Defensive Backfield

I prognosticated that the Raiders would keep ten defensive backs, six cornerbacks, and four safeties in my latest 53-man roster prediction. They could even keep 11, but the reality is that if they stick with ten, six of those will be young players.

If they keep 11, it would be a stunning seven considered young. Something that clearly spells out that the Raiders are going to take their lumps in 2026, but the future is bright. Leonard discussed his young defensive backfield.

“They’ve grown a lot. The highs and the lows. We’re just talking about steady performance. And like any rookie, the emotional highs and lows. Like when they complete a pass, it can’t be the end of the world. Let’s not make it stack two plays in a row of that. And they’ve had a lot of production, but it’s the consistency. We talked about that as a defensive unit."

"I told them a week ago, when we’re at practice and we’re making plays, they come in bunches. And then when adversity strikes, who’s going to step up to respond within the flow of a practice? I tell them, I can’t help you. Who’s going to rally the troops? They get two first downs in a row, and we got to get a stop and get off the field. And it’s the same challenge I ask of those guys.”

S, CB, NB, LB Treydan Stukes

It would be unfair, even after just talking about the young defensive backfield, not to mention Stukes individually. He looked terrific today taking multiple reps with the first team, and he keeps producing, pushing for a starting job. He has Leonard’s attention.

“Yeah, he’s been consistent. My job is to push him outside of his comfort zone and challenge him in every way possible. Safeties are a big part of this defense, and he’s done a great job with that. I’m just not going to stop pushing him. He’s done a very good job. I think he played a lot faster last game, and I think again the instincts are self-explanatory.”

The Veterans

Spytek has accumulated a terrific group of young players, but he has also strategically added and retained some interesting veterans who are getting attention during this Raiders' rebuild.

RG Caleb Rogers

The battle for the starting RG spot with Jackson Powers-Johnson changes daily. If the season started today, after this practice, I give the edge to Powers-Johnson, but Caleb Rogers is not slacking off at all. He has not taken a step back, and if not at the beginning, he will get starts before the season is over.

I asked the NFL’s best IOL and Raiders superstar Tyler Linderbaum what he likes about Rogers.

“The thing about Caleb is he's always trying to find things to improve on, things to work on. If you saw his notebook, you'd see the amount of notes that that dude takes. No, that's the kind of guys you want in the room. He plays the game the right way, has the right attitude, wants to get better, wants to work hard, and we all need to strive to be like that and have that mentality."

The “Bergs”

Tommy Eichenberg | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

Tommy “Freaking” Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg are shining as camp comes to an end. Eichenberg has added some terrific passing defensive skills (not just rushing anymore) and is playing ferociously. Perhaps no player has had a better camp than Lindenberg, and Leonard is pleased with how their camp has gone and their future.

“Yeah, the Bergs. We got the Bergs. I mean, Tommy [Eichenberg] is a killer. He takes it very seriously. He's very focused. I love Tommy for a million reasons. I could go on and on. I think Cody [Lindenberg] is one of the most improved players just in terms of movement and efficiency from where he was last year, and I think it really stood out in the spring."

"I'm really proud of Cody and all the work he's put in. It means the world to those guys. Those guys do everything they could possibly do. So, just very proud of those guys and want to see them have success as much as they want it.”

DE Patrick Johnson

The defensive line is the biggest question mark on the defense. Yes, the defensive backfield is going to have its struggles, but they have so much talent; they are just young. The defensive line has legitimate issues. One rising player is veteran Patrick Johnson, who I project will make the roster and who is playing well.

Rob Leonard likes what he sees from his new pass-rushing weapon. “Very instinctive player, tough. Very smart. I think his play speaks for itself.”

When you turn the film of Johnson on, he has terrific peripheral vision and excellent athleticism, staying light on his feet. I asked him today about that unique skill set for a big man and his athleticism. Did you play other sports?

“I played a lot of sports. I was a wrestler. I wrestled for seven, eight years. Being younger, basketball, baseball, pretty much done it all, man. Even the golf, man. So, for me, I just trained to try to be an athlete, man.”

Watch Today’s Post-Practice Podcast

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