Overview
- Coaches began rotating second‑year guard Caleb Rogers into first‑team right‑guard reps on Thursday as part of an intentional competition to see who earns the starting five, head coach Klint Kubiak said.
- Jackson Powers‑Johnson remains in the mix but has publicly described feeling anxiety and has stepped away from social media while his hold on the job appears less secure than earlier in camp.
- Raiders coaches framed the shifts as a routine evaluation exercise and are managing workloads for young players, with fourth‑round pick Jermod McCoy getting planned rest and tight end Michael Mayer returning after a minor nose injury.
- Tight end Brock Bowers continued to dominate practice and rookie defensive backs earned first‑team reps, developments that shape how the offense and defense mesh in pregame work.
- The battle follows a history of injuries and inconsistent play on the interior line and matters for quarterback protection and run blocking, with Rogers having started late last season when Powers‑Johnson was hurt and the new coaching/front‑office regime emphasizing meritocratic choices.