The injury bug has already bitten the Las Vegas Raiders early in the 2026 NFL season, most notably with Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. But a handful of other starters have missed a game as well, like Treydan Stukes, Darien Porter and Jackson Powers-Johnson. The Raiders are not unique in this.
But it still hurts to have people sidelined, both from a personal standpoint for the player and for the team on Sundays, as this Las Vegas roster lacks depth in a lot of areas and needs all the help that it can get to continue building on its 3-1 start to the campaign.
Ahead of the Silver and Black's Week 5 matchup with the New England Patriots, Klint Kubiak provided injury updates on Jackson Powers-Johnson, who missed Week 4, Jalen Nailor, who got hurt in the game on Sunday, and Dont'e Thornton Jr., who is currently on IR but trending toward returning.
Could Jackson Powers-Johnson return this week for Raiders?
Kubiak update (10/5): "Yes, he's on the mend, and [we are] planning on getting him back this week and getting him in practice."
Ah, the coveted "he's on the mend" response from Kubiak that effectively gives fans nothing. The plan is to get him back and to have him practice this week, but will it actually happen? I suppose fans will find out more when the first official injury report comes on Wednesday.
Las Vegas' offensive line struggled on Sunday without Powers-Johnson, though it is hard to say that his absence was the reason that they failed to play well. His replacement, Caleb Rogers, did take his lumps, though, as Pro Football Focus gave him a 7.6 pass-blocking grade for allowing 5 pressures.
Rogers was also penalized once, but he was very solid in the run game. Still, Powers-Johnson is the better, more experienced player, so bringing him back into the lineup before facing a tough Patriots front will be pivotal for the Raiders' offense, which is struggling to run the ball or pass protect.
If Powers-Johnson can't go, it'll be Rogers again at right guard. If he does return to the field, then Las Vegas should seriously consider a battle between Burford and Rogers on the left side, as that spot has been the weakest link on the offensive line, even if Powers-Johnson has had his struggles, too.
What is the latest on Las Vegas WR Jalen Nailor?
Kubiak update (10/4): "Jalen Nailor has a concussion."
Kubiak Update (10/5): "Yesterday, Jalen [Nailor] had a concussion. So, we'll keep evaluating him."
Nailor was hit in the head on what looked to be a slightly misplaced ball from Kirk Cousins. Of course, this drew a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down, but it also gave Nailor a concussion. After initially coming out of the game, he went back in and played eight more snaps before being pulled.
As with Stukes last week, who was in the concussion protocol, Kubiak doesn't have any info to provide other than that he will need to keep being evaluated. Depending on the severity, Nailor could miss next week, as happened with Stukes when he had the same injury mid-game the week prior.
While Nailor has not been a big contributor in the box score, his speed, route-running and run blocking have been pivotal assets for the Raiders' offense in the early going. He has been the guy setting up others for receptions and paving lanes on the outside for running backs.
The Raiders are incredibly thin at receiver right now, with Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. both on injured reserve, and now Nailor in the concussion protocol. Only Tre Tucker, Cody White, Malik Benson and Dareke Young are healthy from this group.
Is Dont'e Thornton Jr. getting close to his return from injury?
Kubiak Update (10/2): "He's working very hard. He's doing well and [we] look forward to getting him back out here at some point and get him back into practice. ... "He'll be back practicing at some point next week. I can't say yes or no on [him playing in Week 5] yet."
Kubiak Update (10/5): "We're still in discussions about when he will be back. Yes."
It sounds like the staff is optimistic that Thornton Jr. can return soon, but they aren't exactly rushing to get him back on the field. He was banged up in the spring and spent most of the summer "on the mend" with an unknown leg injury, so it's best to play it safe and be cautious for his longevity.
Yes, the Raiders could benefit from getting him back, as Thornton Jr.'s size and speed could be a factor in this offense if used correctly. And Las Vegas is just so low on numbers at wide receiver that anybody coming back would be a great boon to the program.
Fans have not yet seen Thornton Jr. in this new-look system, as he did not play in any of the three preseason games and was sidelined during any live practices in the summer. It is possible that he's taken another step in his development, but just as possible that injuries have hindered any growth.
Hopefully, Thornton Jr. returns soon and becomes the player that fans thought he would be on draft day. Even if he can just be a nice piece for the offense and help others get open, that would be a welcome addition. But the first step with him will always be getting and, more notably, staying healthy.
Add us as a preferred source on Google