With the culture that Klint Kubiak has cultivated in his short time as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, every player on the roster has something to play for this preseason. Competition is abundant, so practically no starting positions or spots in the rotation are promised or guaranteed.
That makes for an exciting three-game exhibition slate for Raider Nation, as they'll get to see the starters play for at least a few series, that is, if coach Kubiak was being truthful when he said that the first-stringers would get a lot of reps during the preseason.
As the first game approaches on Thursday evening against the Arizona Cardinals, critical storylines are forming around this team. Here are five of the biggest elements to watch unfold in Las Vegas as the 2026 NFL season officially opens up.
5 biggest storylines to watch in Raiders' preseason opener vs. Cardinals
How much and how well does Fernando Mendoza play?
Of course, this is the big question on everyone's mind. The rookie will at least get to run with the 2s, but the hope is that Mendoza also gets to mix in with the first-team offense for at least a series so that he can be properly evaluated with weapons like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty at his disposal.
If he plays well, that is just a bonus. This is his first true NFL action, and he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Progress is the name of the game for him, and ideally, he takes another step on Thursday. Either way, it will be an exciting night, as the hopeful future face of the franchise makes his debut.
What does the CB2 rotation look like and does anyone pull away?
Darien Porter is likely to get the start over Zeke Masses, but it will be interesting to see how these two players are rotated and how large Decamerion Richardson or Jermod McCoy loom in this battle. It feels like a two-man race at this point, but a strong showing or two could throw a wrench into things.
Either Masses or Porter could begin to pull away in the first week of the preseason with a splash play like an interception, as new DC Rob Leonard loves takeaways. But this competition will wear on for weeks, so Thursday is just about one player trying to separate himself early to tip the scales.
Will anyone make a statement in the wide receiver room?
Tre Tucker has quietly enjoyed a good camp, Jalen Nailor has had his moments, and Malik Benson has been the unexpected riser. But the Raiders need someone in this group to take the bull by the horns and prove that they can be relied on as a pass-catcher on the outside in the regular season.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. is unlikely to play after missing several practices in a row, but fellow second-year wideout Jack Bech will have a big chance to impress, as will others like Shedrick Jackson, Dareke Young, E.J. Williams, Deven Thompkins, Brandon Johnson and Chase Roberts.
Which RG gets more run with the 1s and are there any other tweaks on the OL?
Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers have been rotating at the starting right guard spot as of late, and with both players seemingly healthy for the matchup, it will be interesting to see which one gets the nod. Powers-Johnson is likely to start, but reps and performance matter more than that.
Las Vegas hasn't mixed up its offensive line much, but perhaps game night will show a few tweaks on that front. And it will be fascinating to see where the Raiders have Trey Zuhn III lined up as he rotates in with the second team, and how many spots he ends up playing.
Does Klint Kubiak's team look and feel different than those of the past?
More critical than the final result is how this team looks in a general sense in their first game under Kubiak. If these 91 players can't get excited and play hard for their coach or their own livelihoods in the preseason, then that would be concerning. I don't think that's what we'll see, however.
This should be a laser-focused Raiders team taking the field, one that looks much-improved in terms of discipline, cohesion, talent and scheme. It should be an exciting and versatile brand of football that finally gets the city of Las Vegas to come out and support its football team.
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