The new-look Las Vegas Raiders got their first taste of preseason action this past weekend, narrowly losing to the Minnesota Vikings.
Head coach Antonio Pierce and his Raiders carried a 20-7 lead at halftime, but questionable timeout usage in the fourth quarter allowed the Vikings to march down the field and set up what ended up being the game-winning field goal. While it was disappointing to not come away with a win, Las Vegas put some good series on tape and should be able to build on that heading into their next preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend.
The Raiders got a good look at some of the players who are on the roster bubble, though their offensive line was missing key pieces in Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson. Miller has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, while Powers-Johnson is dealing with his own shoulder injury he suffered during OTAs.
Although the two offensive linemen have been sidelined, Pierce said that he is hopeful to get them both back following the game against the Cowboys.
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce said he’s “hoping” to get Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson back after the game against the Dallas Cowboys.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) August 11, 2024
Getting Miller and Powers-Johnson would be a huge boost to the offensive line and would signal that the two will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season. Miller should slot back in at left tackle, while Powers-Johnson would likely slide over to left guard despite the lack of training camp reps.
Pierce has previously mentioned wanting to be the most physical team up front, and Miller and Powers-Johnson both fit the bill as maulers who can pass protect and block in the run game. In Miller’s case, he’s turned into one of the more reliable tackles in the NFL as he graded out well last season.
Although the team will still be cautious about bringing along Miller and Powers-Johnson once they return to practice, it’s ultimately good news and a step in the right direction for the offense as a whole.
Antonio Pierce expects all Raiders players to play in preseason
Normally in preseason, coaches opt to play their starters limited snaps or hold them out entirely. However, with Pierce looking to get the most out of live-game action and finding the right combination of players he said he expects all the Raiders players to play at some point during preseason.
