Team news: Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Sunday that he’s liking what he’s seeing from Malik Benson, whether it’s building a rapport with fellow rookie Fernando Mendoza, or getting reps with the first-string offense quarterbacked by Kirk Cousins.

“Time on task helps everybody get better,” Kubiak said. “Malik has jumped in there with the ones at times, he’s earned those reps, but he’s got to stay humble and stay hungry.”

Benson is a familiar named in the dynasty community where he was a later-round prospect. He has always had the talent, but it didn't really transition in college. The story went on to say after playing two years of junior college football at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, Benson was viewed as the No. 1 junior college prospect in the country in 2023. He committed to Alabama, but after catching just 13 passes in 14 games there, he transferred to Florida State in 2024. After one season with the Seminoles, Benson transferred again, finishing his college career at Oregon in 2025. Overall, Benson caught 81 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns in three years in the NCAA. The Raiders WR group doesn't have any household names, so it could be a pretty open competition. Benson is worth keeping an eye on.

Running back Ashton Jeanty, last year's No. 6 pick, caught 55 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. Multiple people told me the team expects him to be a bigger part of the passing game this season.

Related players: Mike Washington Jr.

The story went on to say the Raiders say that Jeanty was a tough tackle in 2025 when they got him to the second level of the defense. They just don't feel as if they did a good enough job of getting him out in space. Rookie Washington Jr. is the player behind Jeanty, and the team likes him a lot, but it looks as if Las Vegas is planning for Jeanty's role to get only bigger. The team believes he's capable of much more. Including him more in the passing games makes sense since the Raiders O-line didn't do much to help Jeanty on the ground.

The Jaguars are feeling confident about Brian Thomas Jr. bouncing back. He has looked phenomenal since the spring, and when you watch him live, he's in a different class athletically than his teammates.

Related players: Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter

The story said Thomas will be the vertical threat. HC Liam Coen noted that QB Trevor Lawrence and Thomas connected more in the spring than they had in last year's camp and season. Coen added his routes the other day were "unreal." The story added the Jags don't have a true WR1 and Lawrence likes to look for Washington and Meyers on third downs, which was a trend last season as well, but BTJ could get back to his big-play ways this season and is so far looking the part.

Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker are the top two wideouts in the room, but it's an open race for WR3. So far, the Raiders have given first-team reps to Dont'e Thornton Jr., Jack Bech and Malik Benson. The concern is, no one has stood out.

The story wen ton to say that during the team period, the majority of quarterback Kirk Cousins' targets have gone to tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, and his checkdowns to running back Ashton Jeanty. It's still early and someone could emerge at some point during camp, but for now, the wide receiver room continues to be a weak spot on the roster.

The Raiders signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to be their starter, and that’s exactly how he’s set to enter training camp.

“When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback,” head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters in his Tuesday press conference. “He’s the guy. And he’s going to get a ton of reps. And he deserves them, because he’s played really good football.

“But I want Fernando Mendoza and I want Aiden O’Connell to push him.”

It seems like a lot would have to change between now and Sept. 13 for Mendoza to be Las Vegas’ QB1 when the club plays Miami in Week 1, the story went on to say. We've seen this play out before, though, and depending on how the Raiders season goes, and how Cousins plays, one can probably assume we'll see Mendoza at some point this season as the Raiders QB1.

The Raiders are placing star TE Brock Bowers on injured reserve today, officially ending his season, per sources.

Bowers has dealt with a knee injury since Week 1. With playoffs long out of reach, the decision was made to get it taken care of now and focus on being 100% in 2026.

Related Players: Michael Mayer

An absolutely cursed season for the Las Vegas Raiders. Mayer is closer to streaming territory over the last two weeks of the season, but there are better options on the waiver wire.

DeMeco Ryans said RB Woody Marks and CB Derek Stingley Jr., who both did not finish the game, should be fine but it’s something they’ll monitor.

Related players: Jawhar Jordan, Nick Chubb, Dare Ogunbowale

Enter Jordan, who finished with 15 carries for 101 yards and also added two catches for 17 yards. With Chubb already ruled out and Marks leaving the game, fantasy owners were forced to see Jordan take over as the RB1. It sounds like Marks will be OK going forward but his status for Week 16 wasn't specifically mentioned. The Texans host the Raiders in Week 16, and the team may not feel a need to bring back Marks right away. This is a situation worth monitoring since it's against the Raiders.

Woody Marks, Trent Brown, Azeez Al-Shaair, Denico Autry returned to practice today. Nick Chubb (ribs) sidelined still

Related Players: Dare Ogunbowale

So not only has Marks returned to practice, he could be in line to play Week 15 without Chubb in the backfield. It would be very unlikely that the veteran Ogunbowale steals enough work to make a major impact on Marks, so if the rookie is out there, he should be viewed as a fringe RB1/2 in a great matchup.

The Falcons ruled out WR Drake London for Thursday night.

Related Players: Darnell Mooney, David Sills, Dylan Drummond, Deven Thompkins

The Falcons WR room is mostly down to guys most of us have never heard of. Mooney has not been able to step up his game in London's absence, so he should be considered down in WR4 territory, while Kyle Pitts should be fired up as a low-end TE1.

The 49ers released kicker Matt Gay and quarterback Adrian Martinez from the practice squad on Tuesday, the team announced.

Related players: Eddy Pineiro

Pineiro is ready to return from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. He has not played since a Nov. 16 game against the Cardinals, the story said. Gay made all four field goal attempts and all four PATs during his time with the Niners.