The Raiders are at the point in training camp where every rep starts to matter a little more, and Thursday’s seventh practice offered a clearer look at why. Kirk Cousins hit two deep touchdown passes, Fernando Mendoza kept the offense moving with short completions, and the competition at quarterback and along the offensive line felt more real than theoretical.
That is the important part of a practice like this. It is not just about who flashes; it is about which players are beginning to separate themselves in the small details that coaches track every day. Cousins’ two deep touchdowns to Jalen Nailor and Brock Bowers stood out as the biggest plays of the session, while Mendoza completed quick passes to Shedrick Jackson and Malik Benson even as the defense came away with two interceptions.
What the practice showed
For Cousins, the day reinforced why he remains such a central figure in the quarterback conversation. Deep throws are never the whole story in camp, but they do matter because they show timing, confidence and a willingness to attack. In a practice setting, that kind of efficiency can shape perception quickly, especially when the same day brings turnovers on the other side of the competition.
Mendoza’s day looked different, but not empty. Short and immediate throws are often less dramatic, yet they can still reveal command of the offense and comfort within structure. The two interceptions against the defense complicated the picture, but they also underscored the reality of a live camp setting: one side wins some snaps, the other side wins others, and the evaluation keeps moving.
The broader context is that these battles are starting to heat up. The quarterback situation has been framed as an open competition, and the same is true up front, where Mike McCoy said, “We're looking for the best five upfront,” and added, “And that's what you're looking for the best eleven. That's what training camp is all for.” That kind of language makes clear that roles are still there to be earned.
That line of thinking also applies to the guard spots, where Caleb Rogers took over as a starting guard in the later part of his rookie season in 2025 after an injury to Jackson Powers-Johnson. Powers-Johnson called it “competition” and said he is “[I'm] having fun playing football.” That is the right attitude for a camp in which nothing is being handed out.
Hezekiah Masses also continues to look more adjusted to NFL speed day by day, which matters because the Raiders need growth at more than one position group. The best camp practices are often the ones that show movement on multiple fronts, not just one headline play. Thursday seemed to do that.
So the takeaway is simple enough: Cousins had the sharper explosive moments, Mendoza showed enough structure to stay in the race, and the Raiders got another practice that made the roster battles feel increasingly live. That is exactly what training camp is supposed to do.
