Fernando Mendoza’s archetypal grooming campy arsenic a Las Vegas Raiders backmost is over. How did manager Klint Kubiak measure his showing the past fewer weeks?
“I’d accidental it’s his archetypal one,” Kubiak said aft Tuesday’s signifier astatine Intermountain Health Performance Center. “It’s baptism by occurrence each time astatine each positions. Especially rookie quarterbacks. I spot an improving subordinate that we’ve conscionable got to support being hard connected to get better.”
Training campy concluded Tuesday with Thursday’s preseason finale — against the San Francisco 49ers astatine Allegiant Stadium — successful tow with the Raiders shifting their signifier cadence toward what it would beryllium successful the regular season. Special teams periods connected the indoor tract preceded 11-on-11 periods and walk-throughs extracurricular with Mendoza fielding immoderate first-team snaps against a scout-team defence successful a red-zone period.
Presumptive starting backmost Kirk Cousins handled the remainder of the first-team reps, though Mendoza threw touchdowns against the scout to choky ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. While quarterbacking the 2nd team, Mendoza delivered a dime down the tract implicit the mediate to wide receiver Deven Thompkins, among his favourite targets during camp. On different play successful 11-on-11 (while rolling close amid relentless unit that apt would’ve resulted successful a sack) helium was astir picked by information Tristin McCollum connected the sideline portion targeting rookie wide receiver Malik Benson, who aboriginal made a stellar drawback from him successful traffic.
Here are different observations from Tuesday’s practice:
Right defender rotation … continues: Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers capped grooming campy successful competition, rotating astatine first-team close defender arsenic they person their past respective practices together. Kubiak didn’t specify who would (or wouldn’t) play against San Francisco but indicated that Powers-Johnson — who got much reps Tuesday with the archetypal squad — and Rogers volition proceed competing done the preseason finale.
“This crippled volition beryllium truly important for that battle,” Kubiak said. “Both those guys are going to play this year. We’re counting connected them — arsenic good arsenic a batch of different guys. So, this contention has lone made them amended and our squad better.”
Treydan Stukes staying with the starters: The rookie information and second-round draught prime played with the first-team defence again, teaming with information Jeremy Chinn. Incumbent starter Isaiah Pola-Mao mostly played with the 2nd team, with which Stukes was playing earlier successful camp.
Asked wherefore Stukes is fielding snaps with the first-team defense, Kubiak said “He’s astir the shot a lot.”
Benson flashing return-game juice: Benson has been among the standouts passim the people of grooming camp, maximizing his first-team reps arsenic helium has built a transportation with Mendoza connected the 2nd team. A accomplished punt returner successful college, helium besides showcased his velocity and burst during Tuesday’s punt-return drills.
“(He’s looked) bully successful practice,” peculiar teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said. “Unfortunately, we conscionable haven’t got immoderate reps for him successful the game. Just hasn’t worked retired that mode with his play time.”
Mike Washington Jr. leads the backfield: With moving backmost Ashton Jeanty missing signifier — having injured his close ankle Sunday day — the fourth-round rookie filled again with Dylan Laube moving down him. Behind the duo is Dare Ogunbowale, who moonlighted with the first-team offense.
Absences: Joining Jeanty among absentees were wide receiver Dont’e Thornton again, wide receiver Chase Roberts and choky extremity Carter Runyon again. Kubiak was hopeful Thornton would play successful the preseason, but it doesn’t look apt amid his longstanding absence.
Contact Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon.
English (US)·