Levi Edwards
The Las Vegas Raiders had been up and again at work early for his or her second day of obligatory minicamp. As the temperature started to rise, so did the extent of competitors on the sector.
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday morning’s follow.
Offensive operation
Kirk Cousinstook restricted reps originally of follow, however made an enduring impression with a 40-yard landing toTre Tuckeramong his handful of performs made. The massive majority of staff interval and 7-on-7 drills sawAidan O’ConnellandFernando Mendozasplit reps, with O’Connell discovering veteran receiverPhillip Dorsett IIfor a landing in pink zone drills.
“They’re fun to work with,” Cousins stated Tuesday of the quarterback room. “We have fun in the meetings, have good dialog. They’re great football minds, great studiers, so they can push me. I think to say I’m mentoring them is a bit of a reach … I’m learning a lot from them too and asking questions of them. And so, it’s always been a working force together in the quarterback room, and that’s what it is.”
Connor Heyward’s utilization was additionally noticeable on the sector, carrying a number of hats for the offense within the floor sport and the aerial assault. The fullback scored 5 touchdowns (two speeding, three receiving) in his 4 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Complementary exhibiting from protection
The collective protection had a great exhibiting from entrance to again in my eyes.
Coming off the heels ofAshton JeantyandMike Washington Jr.having a powerful first day of minicamp, the entrance seven had been profitable of their efforts to cease the run Wednesday. LinebackersQuay Walker,Tommy EichenbergandCody Lindenbergled the best way, crashing downhill and hitting the correct gaps as a lot as they might with out pads on.
“Honestly where we’re at right now, we’re growing each and every day, that’s all you can ask for,” Walker stated of the protection. “A lot of teams are preaching the same thing around this time. … So we’ve just got to stay locked in with it and just have the mindset, and as a leader it’s my job, I feel, as [to] come in with the right mindset and making sure guys can match my energy.”
Edge rusherMalcolm Kooncestood out on the line of scrimmage, getting stress on O’Connell and Mendoza together with a close to interception that resulted right into a batted down cross. Rookie safetyDalton Johnsoncaught an interception on an underthrown cross throughout staff interval.
Going toe to toe
The Raiders are evaluating two kickers on their roster, eight-year veteranMatt Gayand rookie UDFAKansei Matsuzawa.
Matsuzawa has made headlines earlier than arriving to Las Vegas. Nicknamed “The Tokyo Toe,” he was motivated to show himself kick a soccer with YouTube tutorials after attending a Monday Night Football sport between the Raiders and Rams. He was named a consensus All-American in 2025 after going 27-of-29 on subject targets at Hawaii.
“[M]ore self-taught, but this guy’s done a great job in college, he had film to watch” stated Joe DeCamillis, Raiders particular groups coordinator. “It wasn’t like he just came off the street and he’s one of those tryout guys that never kicked. … I think it’s going to be a heck of a story.”
Gay has a established relationship with DeCamillis after spending two seasons collectively on the Los Angeles Rams. The vet had a fantastic exhibiting through the situational particular groups interval, going 5-of-6 with a protracted subject purpose made for properly over 50 yards close to the tip of follow.
DeCamillis stated there are a number of components to kicking competitions past makes and misses. He positioned each kickers in a number of in-game eventualities to see how they kick beneath stress.
“[O]bviously end of the game, end of the half kicks are more important than just the normal ball, for sure,” he stated. “They have to be able to do both, but there’s a lot of things that go into play with all that stuff.”