An injury to starting cornerback Darien Porter paved a path for fifth-round Las Vegas Raiders rookie Zeke Masses to make his mark in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers. How he fared would mean a great deal, as the debate about who to start between the two raged on all offseason.
Although Porter didn't play poorly in Week 1 before having to leave the game, I don't think there will be much debate about who should start from here on out. Masses made a ginormous splash on Sunday against the Chargers with his two-interception showing; one that simply cannot be ignored.
The first-year player was not only up to the task against the AFC West rival Chargers, but he made a statement that those in the building, the fanbase and the NFL landscape felt. By all accounts, he is the ballhawk cornerback who can take the football away that the Raiders have desperately waited for.
Raiders' Zeke Masses showed out in first career start against Chargers
Masses' stat line tells a good bit of the story when it comes to his impact: five tackles, including four solo and one for a loss, and two interceptions. That's right, in his first career start, the young player recorded two picks. He is the first Raiders rookie to do so in any game since 1979.
Here's the best part, though: Masses made great returns on both of them. His first interception came on a tip drill, and he had the immediate thought to head the other way, gallavanting 29 yards to the Chargers' 23-yard line, which set the offense up for success, even though they didn't convert.
His second pick came late in the game, as he jumped a Justin Herbert pass to seal Los Angeles' fate with just over two minutes left. He quickly jumped up and ran 20 yards deeper into the Chargers' territory, although he was ruled down by contact. Still, great instincts and athleticism.
And the ultra-confident rookie wasn't afraid to talk his stuff post-game.
"The coaches gave me an opportunity, and then Herbert tried me twice, and I was just trying to make a play on the ball," Masses told reporters. "It's mine, man. It ain't no 50-50 ball, I'm trying to get every ball in the air. Trying to go get it. ... I'm comfortable out there. I'm supposed to be out there."
This isn't new for Masses; he did this in Week 1 and in college at California last year. Against the Miami Dolphins, Masses broke up a pass on the first play of his career, and he picked off four and broke up seven in his first five games as a Golden Bear in 2025. This is a pattern for him, not a flash in the pan.
Not to mention, it is precisely what the Raiders wanted and have so badly needed for years.
Raiders have needed a ballhawk CB like Zeke Masses for years
Rob Leonard has preached all offseason that "if it's up, it's ours," meaning any time the ball is thrown, the Raiders' secondary should be going to get it. And that came through with Masses in his first start, as he picked off two passes and gave up just two catches for 16 yards on six targets.
When is the last time that Las Vegas has had that?
Here are the Raiders' interception leaders over the past few years:
Player | Year | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|
Kyu Blu Kelly | 2025 | 3 |
Jack Jones | 2024 | 3 |
Tre'Von Moehrig/Robert Spillane | 2023 | 3 |
Duron Harmon/Denzel Perryman/Amik Robertson | 2022 | 2 |
Six Tied | 2021 | 1 |
Jeff Heath | 2020 | 3 |
We could extrapolate this data way back to the Charles Woodson and Nnamdi Asomugha days before finding a true ballhawk for the Raiders' secondary, but you get the point. It's been a while since the Silver and Black have had a defensive back who can both cover solidly and take the ball away.
Through two games, Masses has proven to be just that. And the best part about his emergence is that he's not the only one in the secondary making moves. Treydan Stukes had an interception last week, and both Porter and Eric Stokes are solid in coverage, even if they don't take it away.
Oh, and Jermod McCoy is a potential future star in the making, so where, as an opposing quarterback, do you throw the ball? Masses has made it clear that it shouldn't be thrown his way, and that is wildly impactful for the defense as a whole. Sections of the field will be blocked off.
Perhaps teams still try the young cornerback early in his career, thinking they'll get the best of him. But I would advise against that, as Masses is adept at taking the ball away. Just remember: these aren't 50-50 balls. If it's up, it's his. And the Raiders haven't had that in a long, long time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google