The Las Vegas Raiders' wide receiver group didn't exactly start training camp on the right foot. After an offseason full of folks doubting them, reports from beat writers indicated that the group had a hard time getting going in early practices. Drops were an issue, and nobody was really standing out.
Over the next few days, however, bits started trickling in about a handful of plays made here or there. Rookie Malik Benson seemed to be coming into his own, and veteran free agent signing Jalen Nailor was apparently finding his stride in his hometown of Las Vegas after a slow start to things.
When the pads came on at Raiders HQ for the last two practices, though, the wide receivers really began turning the corner. All of a sudden, this stumbling group is showing signs of life at training camp, and they'll need to keep stacking days as they approach the 2026 NFL season.
Raiders wide receiver group is bouncing back after tough start to training camp
ESPN's Ryan McFadden pointed out on Tuesday that the wide receiver group, as a whole, bounced back when the pads came on. He called it "arguably their best day of camp," and noted Nailor scoring a handful of red zone touchdowns and Benson's rapport with Fernando Mendoza continuing to grow.
Raiders.com's Levi Edwards echoed this report, noting that the unit made a complete 180. The Athletic's Sam Warren also chimed in with a quick tidbit about Tre Tucker and Jack Bech both making plays as well. Those two had been fairly quiet up to that point at camp.
After days of hearing that the wide receivers had yet to make an impact and that it was the Brock Bowers show in the passing game, these are excellent reports to be filtering in about the Silver and Black. This team needed someone to step up, and now multiple guys are trending the right way.
Bech, in particular, has been under a microscope this offseason, as last year's second-round pick needs to make strides in his second season for the fanbase to get off his back. He gave people what they wanted, catching a ball from Mendoza on a nice stutter-go route with Zeke Masses covering.
Edwards noted that this grab by Bech was heavily contested. And Warren later mentioned that Bech hauled in a great catch on a slant route during 1-on-1s, using his bigger body and physicality to make the snag. Warren thinks that Bech is a great complement to smaller receivers like Tucker and Nailor.
Benson also continues to thrive on crossing routes, which is a pivotal piece of Klint Kubiak's offense, and his connection with Mendoza on comeback routes should serve him well in Las Vegas, especially in the long run. McFadden believes that Benson is currently the Raiders' No. 3 receiver.
UDFA Chase Roberts, who many felt could make some noise during camp, also got a shoutout from Edwards in his training camp notebook. Apparently, the rookie caught a touchdown pass from Aidan O'Connell near the end of the session, his first big splash play of camp.
Following a rough start to the preseason program, this Raiders wide receiver group is coming alive, and the best part about it is that multiple different players are starting to show signs of development, even in the early stages.
Without any solutions out wide, Las Vegas will undoubtedly struggle this season. Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ashton Jeanty can only carry so much of the load on their own. But the Raiders' wideouts seem determined not to let that be the case, as they now have a pulse headed into Week 2.
Let's just hope they keep trending in the right direction.
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