It has been a hectic and emotional week for the Las Vegas Raiders, as they simultaneously said goodbye to Kirk Cousins, a beloved leader in the locker room, but also ushered in the Fernando Mendoza era, and all of the excitement and hope that accompany a significant change like that.
Opinions have been flowing in about the ordeal and taking up much of the bandwidth for Raiders fans, but believe it or not, there are other happenings surrounding this team. And the Silver and Black also have a monumental matchup on the docket in Week 10 as the Seattle Seahawks come to town.
But before we get there, let's go over the smaller bits of news that were missed amid all of the chaos that the trade deadline and a quarterback change brought. We did manage to sneak in quotes from the coordinators about Mendoza, but we'll also cover the injury report, Week 10 captains and more.
- Raiders final injury report for Week 10
- Seahawks final injury report for Week 10
- Quick hitters
- Andrew Janocko and Rob Leonard on Fernando Mendoza
- Week 10 captains
Raiders final injury report for Week 10
Following Friday's practice, the Raiders released their final injury report for Sunday's game:
Player | Position | Injury | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Dont'e Thornton Jr. | WR | Back | Questionable |
Thomas Booker IV | DT | Ankle | Questionable |
Trey Zuhn III | RG | Concussion | - |
Foley Fatukasi | DT | Shoulder | - |
Ian Thomas | TE | Ankle | - |
Klint Kubiak told reporters during Friday's press conference that Zuhn III was good to go, so he will be the starter at right guard once again on Sunday. Kubiak had said earlier in the week that if Zuhn III was healthy, he would start, so there you have it.
After missing last week's game, Booker IV returned to practice in a limited capacity this week, but he is officially questionable. Thornton Jr. has the same designation after popping up on the injury report on Friday with a back injury. That same injury limited him last week as well.
Fatukasi and Thomas have been mainstays on the injury report throughout the season with a shoulder and an ankle injury, respectively, but such is often the case with veterans. They are both good to go for Week 10.
Seahawks final injury report for Week 10
Below is the Seahawks' final injury report:
Player | Position | Injury | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Sam Darnold | QB | Ribs/Quad | OUT |
Quenton Nelson | LG | Knee | OUT |
Charles Cross | LT | Ankle | OUT |
Leonard Williams | DT | Stinger | OUT |
Uchenna Nwosu | OLB | Ankle | - |
Rashid Shaheed | WR/RS | Knee | - |
AJ Barner | TE | Finger | - |
Derrick Hall | OLB | Back | - |
At the beginning of the week, it seemed like several key Seattle players were in line to miss Sunday's game. Typically, the injury report changes over the week, and players practice more as they get further removed from the game the weekend before.
But the Seahawks will be without their starting quarterback, their two elite starters on the left side of the offensive line, and their best defensive lineman against the Raiders in Week 10. For a Las Vegas team that has struggled in the trenches on both sides, this is quite the stroke of luck.
Now, the Raiders' pass rush has still been weak, and so has the interior blocking, particularly in the run game, but against backups or rotational players (who are still very good, to be fair), they have a better chance of success. Playing to a draw in these matchups could help them pull off an upset.
Seattle does get Shaheed back, who missed the last few weeks, as well as Nwosu, who is critical to their pass rush. And playing short-staffed teams hasn't exactly been fruitful this year for the Silver and Black, but that doesn't mean this isn't still an advantage that they have.
Quick hitters
Broncos-Chargers beef is fun to watch
Raiders fans were already celebrating that the trade deadline deal between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers fell through, but things have gotten even more fun to watch. First, Jim Harbaugh laid into Denver's front office during a press conference, which was quite shocking to hear.
Then, reports began piling in that there were discrepancies between what the Broncos' medical staff found and what the Chargers' medical staff found, and that the NFL was involved in the whole process. The league has yet to make a statement, but what a scandal and a distraction for both sides.
Dare Ogunbowale back on the market
Ogunbowale was poached from the Las Vegas practice squad by the Houston Texans after Week 3, and he seemed to carve out a role there once again as a returner. But Houston added Nikko Remigio, a return specialist, to their roster after the deadline, and Ogunbowale was released as a result.
Now, Ogunbowale is on the open market, free to sign with any team. Seeing as the Raiders never got rid of him, it raises the question of whether or not the front office would entertain the idea of bringing him back to the p-squad at the expense of Owen Wright, whom they signed to replace him originally.
Phillip Dorsett finds a new home
Dorsett has been around the building for two years now, but never a key fixture. He was the casualty of some roster gymnastics last week as the Raiders got healthy in the wide receiver room, but he has found a new home on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad. The two teams face off in Week 17.
Raiders waive Chris Collier from injured reserve
Collier has made some cameo appearances for the Silver and Black over the last two years, but he got injured before the season began and was placed on injured reserve. On Thursday, they decided to release him from injured reserve with an injury settlement, so he is no longer in the building.
Andrew Janocko and Rob Leonard on Fernando Mendoza
Andrew Janocko on Fernando Mendoza's mobility:
"We’re going to ask him to play the position, and there are times when your legs come into play. That’s something that we ask him to do, but that’s something we ask every quarterback to do. And if his skill set gives more of an advantage for that, then that’s something that you might see show up. But playing the position of quarterback is about putting the offense to be successful, and however he can do that, that’s what we really want him to do.”
Janocko on where Mendoza has grown:
“I think just articulate everything the way he sees it, the way he feels it, and then do it in a manner that can explain to everybody. So, just from a mental standpoint, being able to paint the picture in his mind and paint the picture to everybody else within the offense.”
“Like I said, I think just the mastery of the offense and what we’re asking him to do. Just taking the meeting room to the individual drill, the individual drill to the team drill, and then watching that transpire. Hopefully, that translates to success in the game. But again, not just him, all of them."
Janocko on Mendoza's personality and being grounded:
“I think it’s really a testament to how all the guys around him support him, and then they let him be himself. The vets on this team and how they’ve supported him, that’s a big deal. So, we let that kind of cultivate. We let those relationships and that culture cultivate, and that allows everybody, everybody’s got a unique personality. Those are all welcome, but we fit together as one to be us.”
Rob Leonard on what he's seen when facing Mendoza in practice:
“Tight-window throws. He’s on the scout team. Just his anticipation. It’s been fun to see him mature, and a guy playing with a lot of confidence.”
Week 10 captains
Here are the captains for the Raiders' Week 10 bout against the Seahawks:
Offense: Kolton Miller
Defense: Nakobe Dean
Special Teams: Dareke Young
This is the first time that either Miller or Young will be a captain during the 2026 season. Dean was a captain once before, during the Raiders' Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. With Miller being elected captain, that leaves just a handful of starters who have not been chosen yet this year.
Right guard and the second cornerback spot have been a revolving door, but left guard Spencer Burford has not been a captain yet this season, nor have wide receiver Jalen Nailor or defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway.
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