Nothing was assured for offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson as he entered his third training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The former second-round pick has generated plenty of hype with some of his physical and athletic blocks over the last two seasons, but injuries, inconsistency and a new regime all contributed to him finding himself squarely in the middle of a competition to be the team’s starting right guard.
Powers-Johnson emerged as the winner in the battle over second-year pro Caleb Rogers and could benefit from having engaged in the competition.
“I think everybody made each other better,” he said ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium. “I think Caleb made me better. I think (center Tyler Linderbaum) made me better. (Starting right tackle D.J. Glaze) made me better. The coaches made me better. I think we all just worked hard every day to make each other better.”
Talent has never been a question for Powers-Johnson, who was a second-round pick out of Oregon where he won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center.
He has missed time in each of his first two seasons with the Raiders while bouncing between center and guard. Not only has the team not found the right spot for him, but Powers-Johnson has often appeared as if he were riding a roller coaster of performance and emotion where he follows spectacular plays with confounding mistakes.
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said that while all jobs on the team are open for competition, Powers-Johnson did a good job showing what he needed to be named the Week 1 starter.
“We are constantly competing but just saw from him a level of consistency that we wanted to see,” Janocko said. “He came out each and every day, proved what we needed to see, knew the assignments, knew the complexity of the job, and then just executed at the level we’ve been asking.”
Coach Klint Kubiak said he still believes both Powers-Johnson and Rogers will start games and play meaningful reps this season for a team that will need contributions from everyone.
“I see them both as starters that are going to play a lot of football for us,” Kubiak said.
But it’s Powers-Johnson who has earned the nod to start the season, a distinction he won despite missing a few training camp practices with an undisclosed injury.
“I wasn’t focused on competition,” Powers-Johnson said. “I was just trying to get better every day and be where I needed to be.’
Now that the lineup is set, the focus shifts to making sure the offensive line can raise its standard of play.
A steadier Powers-Johnson will go a long way toward improving what was one of the worst units in the league. He entered last season hoping to win the starting job at center, where he excelled in college, but lost the competition and was moved to guard before battling injuries most of the season.
In his absence, the Raiders struggled to create much room in the run game or protect the quarterbacks in the pass game.
They added Linderbaum on what is the most lucrative interior lineman free-agent deal in NFL history, ensuring Powers-Johnson will stay at guard for the foreseeable future. The Raiders also brought in solid veteran Spencer Burford.
But they are all aware they must be better for the team to take any kind of positive step forward.
“Technique and more cohesion,” Powers-Johnson said of where the group has improved. “I think we have been able to get on the same page, so I think we are going into the season with confidence.
“I felt like we all had a great camp. It was fun. It felt like there was a different energy and atmosphere. I think all the guys were able to get better and had fun playing football.”
Several of the linemen have credited that to the style of offensive line coach Rick Dennison, who brings intensity and years of experience to the job.
Powers-Johnson said the team of assistants also deserve more credit for what the group is trying to build.
They want to be a reason the Raiders get better, not the issue holding them back.
But they aren’t concerned with how they are perceived.
“I don’t think we’ve thought much about an identity,” Powers-Johnson said. “I just think we’re all excited to play football together.”
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
