Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak had a lot to account for the last three days, the first three days of training camp, his first training camp as a first-year coach. Amid the individual developmental drills, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11, the collective’s conditioning is catching his attention.
So much for that summertime sun.
“The number one thing these first three days is to see what kind of shape we’re in,” Kubiak said Friday morning at Intermountain Health Performance Center. “… Our training staff has got guys ready to go physically to play football. … We’re really blessed to have great facilites here and a great training staff that’s got our guys to this point.”
Las Vegas mixed and matched its personnel through its first three days of training camp as Kubiak and his coaching staff ramp up for next week’s padded practices. Practicing in “underwear” — as Kubiak referenced when asked about rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. — doesn’t paint the full evaluatory picture for the Raiders, who wore smaller, thinner spider pads Friday as they emphasized red-zone offense and defense.
They won’t take the practice field Saturday, returning Sunday for the first of three practices before another off-day Wednesday.
Here are some observations after Day 3:
Quarterbacks update
Kirk Cousins decisive and accurate: Announced as the starting quarterback Tuesday, Cousins has handled all the first-team reps and displayed the decisiveness and accuracy befitting of a 15-year veteran passer. He connected twice for touchdowns Friday with tight end Brock Bowers in 11-on-11 and added 7-on-7 scores to wideouts Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor as well as running back Ashton Jeanty.
He also threw the camp’s first interception targeting Tucker during 7-on-7 that cornerback Darien Porter tipped to Taron Johnson, who’s repped in the slot and also at safety. But his flurry of touchdown passes followed and he’s hardly missed an open pass catcher.
Also on the field
Rookie corners in the mix: Rookie fifth-round draftee Hezekiah Masses is getting steady run with the first-team defense, splitting reps with Darien Porter opposite top cornerback Eric Stokes. Speaking Thursday, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said Masses isn’t “scared to make a play” from a competitive position.
Fourth-round draftee Jermod McCoy — a first-round pick if not for concern about lingering effects from a torn left ACL — is repping at corner with the second and third teams and practicing three consecutive days makes for a “positive start,” per Kubiak. “Keep stacking days. We’ll keep monitoring his mileage and just see how he comes and recovers the next day,” Kubiak added.
Offensive line gelling: Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze have manned the first-team offensive line the last three days. Trey Zuhn III, Jordan Meredith and Caleb Rogers have repped at second-team guard.
Zuhn repped Friday with the second-team at center, once snapping the football several feet over quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s head.
Bowers uncoverable: Expect Cousins — and eventually Mendoza — to look toward the tight end early and often as the top pass catcher in Kubiak’s offense. His combination of power and speed have made him a tough cover so far in camp, leading to chunk plays and touchdown catches.
As expected.
Tonka Hemingway running with the ones: The second-year defensive tackle is running with the first-team defense, mucking up some runs during Thursday’s practice. Again with the first team Friday morning, he forced in incompletion from Cousins — batting down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
Special teams
Kickers competing: Matt Gay and Kansei Matsuzawa are competing to kick for the Raiders this fall with the veteran having the early edge on the rookie. Gay made a 50-plus yarder Thursday through the facility’s narrower-than-normal goal posts and didn’t miss a field goal Friday as Matsuzawa missed a 40ish-yarder off the right upright.
Injury news
Kwity Paye leaves Friday’s practice early: A starter on the edge, Paye walked off the practice field during an individual period accompanied by a Raiders trainer. Asked about his status after practice, Kubiak said “We’re trying to be smart. … We want to make sure we get him to the full padded days.”
Malcolm Koonce replaced Paye with the first team and beat Glaze on a rush that would’ve resulted in a sack or incompletion for Cousins.
Last word
Versatility valued: Kubiak said 90% of the Raiders haven’t established their roles yet and highlighted the importance of positional versatility: “Receivers that can play all three (spots), fullbacks that can play tight end and vice versa, DBs that can play corner and safety. That’s how you make the roster in the NFL.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
