The Las Vegas Raiders will open the 2026 NFL season at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, and it's fair to think that Klint Kubiak could get his first win as a head coach out of the way quickly against a favorable opponent.
Miami is rebuilding under a new general manager and head coach, and in line with that, the roster was gutted in the offseason. That said, the Dolphins shouldn't be taken lightly, and Kubiak will make sure that's the case in Week 1.
Everyone wants to get the season off to a good start with a strong performance, but there's an extra layer of importance for some players. Using that as a jumping-off point, here are five Raiders whose backs are already against the wall on opening weekend.
5 Raiders who already have their backs against the wall in Week 1 vs. Dolphins
5. CB Darien Porter
Porter held off a training camp challenge from fifth-round rookie Zeke Masses to earn the starting spot opposite Eric Stokes, in some deference to his having a year of NFL experience under his belt. But this battle is far from over.
While the Dolphins no longer have Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, they do have three interesting rookie wide receivers (Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas, and Kevin Coleman Jr.) to provide a test. Porter will see whoever Stokes isn't responsible for.
Porter has a lot of potential, but at some point, that potential has to show something tangible. His leash is probably short, and if he struggles in Week 1, it will be cinched another notch or two.
4. K Matt Gay
Raiders' fans dreamed of a scenario where Kansei "The Tokyo Toe" Matsuzawa would mount a legit challenge to Gay for the kicking job during camp and the preseason, but it just didn't come close to happening.
Gay did just fine in the preseason, making 5-of-6 field goals with the lone miss from 54 yards out, but he's still a journeyman who kicked for two teams and made less than 75 percent of his field goals last season.
Matsuzawa clearly has some work to do to become a dependable NFL kicker, and with that in mind, the Raiders brought him back on the practice squad. So, he lingers as a fallback option if Gay has any struggles, and the veteran needs to start setting that idea aside right away in Week 1.
3. RG Jackson Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson was always expected to be the Raiders' starting right guard, and not being messed with like he was by last year's coaching staff will only benefit him. Kubiak has also made it clear, though, that second-year man Caleb Rogers is seen as another starting-caliber option at the position, as offensive line depth in general looks very good.
This season, Powers-Johnson has to shake off the things that impacted his first two seasons (inconsistency and injuries) and assert himself as a future pillar of the Raiders' offensive line. That starts in Week 1.
2. WR Jalen Nailor
The Raiders ponied up in free agency to bring Nailor back to where he played his high school ball, and as expected, he's listed as a starter. But Kubiak's general callout of the wide receiver room, and his playing in the second preseason game when other starters didn't, confirmed that he will be promised nothing.
Nailor can, and needs to, take a big step toward silencing the early noise with a good outing against the Dolphins' weak secondary.
1. QB Kirk Cousins
Beyond the idea that he's preventing everyone from seeing Fernando Mendoza play right away, no one has a problem with Cousins, per se. Barring injury, as has always been the plan, he will start as many games as necessary before Mendoza is deemed ready.
Sunday against the Dolphins is a very good spot for Cousins to have success and start the season on a positive note. The outside clamoring for Mendoza to start will never totally go away, but Cousins can quiet it a good bit by performing well in a season-opening victory.
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