Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch for in 2021 preseason Game No. 1

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach John Gruden and offensive tackle Andre James #68 of the Las Vegas Raiders leave the field after warmups prior to an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach John Gruden and offensive tackle Andre James #68 of the Las Vegas Raiders leave the field after warmups prior to an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Raiders
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 28: Tanner Muse #55 of the Las Vegas Raiders catches a pass during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch for in 2021 preseason Game No. 1

The rise of Tanner Muse

With an offseason full of moves and mystery, one of the most mysterious cases lies in the surprising surge of Tanner Muse. Drafted in the third round of last year’s draft, Muse underwent season-ending surgery on his toe and never saw the field his rookie year.

Add the fact the former Clemson Tiger played safety in college and has now been shifted to linebacker, you would think he would be factoring mainly into special teams. However, this has not been the case so far in his first full training camp.

Muse has been running with the first team in training camp, and so far has not looked back after being penciled in as the starting SLB in the first unofficial depth chart going into the preseason. The former converted safety will be on the field this Saturday, and we will get a more in-depth look into what the Raiders are truly seeing in Muse.

It is hard to tell if he can hold off other linebackers behind him, especially considering he is technically a rookie without any professional game time. We should expect to see plenty of Muse this weekend as he is trying to prove he is the right man for the job.

With his blend of size and speed though, maybe the rise of Tanner Muse will have no fall, but only that he will continue his ascent.

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