The Las Vegas Raiders have been rolling through the preseason and they picked up another impressive win this past weekend when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 34-17.
Josh McDaniels decided to give his starters a couple of reps to get ready for the 2023 season, which meant fans got their first look at Jimmy Garoppolo in the Silver and Black. Garoppolo didn’t disappoint as he went a perfect four-of-four on completions for 39 yards.
The quarterback spent most of the offseason rehabbing from a foot procedure but looked competent on the field in his first game action since the 2022 season. The Raiders are counting on his familiarity with the system to get off to a good start, and so far the early returns are positive.
When discussing how he and Las Vegas performed, Garoppolo was pleased with how things turned out via Levi Edwards of Raiders:
“Yeah, yeah I wanted to play so I’m glad Josh (McDaniels) let the starters get out there and get a couple of reps in. I thought the line played great, I thought guys were just operating at a fast pace which is important in this offense. I thought it was overall pretty good.”
Seeing Garoppolo work with the ones was an encouraging sign considering how much time he missed in the summer. The more reps he can get in before the season starts the better, so it stands to reason he and the rest of the starting group should play at least a series in their preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Raiders have indeed looked much spryer and quicker on the field, a good sign considering that they face a stacked AFC and will need to play up to their potential if they want to compete for a playoff spot. Hopefully, Garoppolo will be able to stay healthy during the season and give Las Vegas fans the trip to the postseason they’ve been eagerly waiting for.
Michael Mayer expected to begin 2023 season as starting tight end
The Raiders enjoyed some luck during the 2023 NFL Draft when Michael Mayer fell all the way to them in the second round. Mayer was widely considered to be the best tight end prospect in his class but slipped to Las Vegas.
Mayer is a versatile tight end that can do just about anything on the field which is why he is reportedly set to start for the team in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos.
