Jack Bech sprinted down the left sideline Tuesday on the Intermountain Health Performance Center practice field, leaving Hezekiah Masses behind him and eyeing the football thrown ahead. The second-year wideout for the Las Vegas Raiders secured the separation he hadn’t much had during 1-on-1 training camp passing drills.
With it came a touchdown from Fernando Mendoza.
“Finally can play some real football and finally put the pads on,” Bech explained with the second padded practice of training camp complete. “A lot of the physicality, that’s one thing Coach (Klint Kubiak) stresses a lot to the offense, defense, to all the players. So, for all of us to be able to come out here, really put pads on and play football for the first time as a unit and as a team, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Pads or not, Bech hasn’t popped in his second training camp with the Raiders, working to find his NFL footing as he battles for reps with the pass catching corps. The 58th pick in last year’s NFL draft who had 229 receiving yards last year, Bech had his most productive practice Tuesday morning and hopes to build on it moving forward.
“Keep fulfilling my role, whatever that may be,” he added. “Being a physical blocker in the run game. Catching balls over the middle. Making contested plays. That goes for everybody. Everybody has to do those things. Everybody has to play their role so we can — as a team — take this team where we want to go.”
Bech exceeded 1,000 yards receiving his senior season at Texas Christian, catching favor from Raiders execs with his sure hands, route running and physical stature. But his tools and traits didn’t translate to production a year ago in a listless offense, leaving him with 20 receptions and seven games without a catch.
Mostly playing with the second team in practice — with Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker serving as the first-team wideouts — Bech is optimistic about his fit in Kubiak’s offense this season. He’s angling for playing time with Dont’e Thornton, Shedrick Jackson and Brandon Johnson among other wide receivers.
His touchdown rep Tuesday doesn’t hurt his cause.
“It’s just day by day,” Bech said. “Coming here, you listen to what the coaches say — the good, the bad, the indifferent. You go in each day, you come in here with the mindset of growth to get better. It doesn’t matter if you have a great day, if you have an OK day. Whatever it may be. Each and every day you’ve just got to come in here, you’ve got to put your head down, you’ve got to go to work, and again, you’ve got to put the team first.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
