The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding their roster, and the stakes are high for the offensive linemen.
It’s usually ridiculous going on goofy to talk about the importance of preseason games, but it’s close to the opposite of that with the Las Vegas Raiders right now. They’re rebuilding the roster heading into the final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers tonight, and there are plenty of players with a lot on the line.
Sam Warren of The Athletic did a breakdown of who’s playing for what, and he quoted coach Klint Kubiak about the value of game reps tonight.
“These game reps are the most valuable ones that we can use,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “It’s very helpful (for evaluating) many guys.”
The offensive battle will take center stage tonight, with Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers vying for the right guard spot. They’re both going to make the roster and be on the field, but beyond that there’s a lot of sorting out to do.
“This game will be really important for that battle,” Kubiak said. “I know both those guys are going to play this year. We’re counting on both of them, as well as a lot of other guys. So, this competition has only made them better and our team better.”
Rogers has been the surprise in this contest, as he’s started rotating in with the first team. But Powers-Johnson has the edge in this particular competition, per Warren, although Kubiak likes what Rogers has brought to the table so far.
“He has all the talent that you’re looking for,” Kubiak said of Rogers. “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.”
Both guards will get playing time tonight, and one will be slotted in as the starter after that. But Warren added that this is a competition that will likely continue throughout the season, as the Raiders roster will likely remain in flux for at least a month.
One lineman who’s not diong as well is Jordan Meredith. He started 11 games for Las Vegas last season, but according to Warren he’s “tumbled down the depth chart.”
He started out as the center for quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the second-teamers, but rookie Trey Zuhn III has moved into that spot, and Meredith has been reduced to rotating in as a backup left guard lately. Meredith offers versatility across the line with his ability to play multiple positions, but he’ll need to show something tonight to earn a depth spot, according to Warren.
