The 2024 season will mark the first full season Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce gets to run the team.
Pierce was promoted from interim head coach this offseason after a successful run during the second half of the 2023 season, during which he led the team to a winning record. A former linebacker who won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, Pierce understands the dynamics of the locker room and how to communicate with players, and so far, it sounds like the roster has bought into what he’s been preaching.
Las Vegas may not be projected to win many games, but Pierce’s primary goal should be to establish the team’s identity and culture. There has been too much drama the past few years, and with a head coach like Pierce to stabilize the situation, the Raiders should be able to build themselves up in earnest.
With that in mind, Pierce said that he expects all his players to play in the preseason as a tune-up for the regular season via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN:
#Raiders coach Antonio Pierce says he expects every player to play in the preseason. The @Raiders do not have any joint practices this year. pic.twitter.com/DEr9kOk18Z
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) July 23, 2024
Normally, teams will use preseason to evaluate players who might be on the 53-man roster bubble and save their veterans to keep them healthy for the year. However, Pierce looks to be angling to use the preseason to get reps for his starters, especially because they aren’t holding any joint practices.
The Raiders will kick off their preseason slate against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 10. They’ll then take on the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 17 and finish the slate against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 23.
Even though Pierce plans to use all the players on the training camp roster, the presumed starters will likely only see a few series in the first game and gradually ramp up. Normally, teams will trot out the regulars for about half the game in the final game, and that should be the expectation with Pierce and the Raiders.
There is a lot of work to do to get back to the postseason, but it sounds like Pierce has a plan and a vision for how to get there.
Raiders not allowed to promote training camp in preseason
Las Vegas will host training camp in Costa Mesa, CA, but hasn’t been able to promote it due to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers holding exclusive rights.
