Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak indicated he may play his starters in the upcoming preseason game against the Houston Texans after a joint practice session revealed significant team weaknesses. The team's first-year coach reviewed game film following a challenging practice, stating that the performance would influence his decisions about who plays and who does not in Thursday's matchup.
During the joint practice, the Raiders' offensive line struggled against the Texans' pass rush, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Pass protection was a notable issue, as was the team's ability to generate consistent movement in the running game. Quarterback Kirk Cousins acknowledged the pressure, noting the Texans' speed and pursuit.
The struggles extended to the wide receiver corps, which had difficulty creating separation against a strong Texans secondary. This made it harder for quarterbacks to move the ball downfield, contributing to Houston's ability to limit explosive plays and force check-downs. Coach Kubiak noted the difficulty in completing deep passes against the Texans' defense.
Tight end Brock Bowers provided a rare highlight, connecting with Cousins for a touchdown during a red-zone period and later catching a 25-yard reception from Fernando Mendoza. This play briefly showcased the potential of the Raiders' offense when protection, scheme, route execution, and quarterback play align, but such moments were infrequent.
"If it’s just one play you’re talking about after practice, that’s probably a concern," Kubiak said. "You need more."
On defense, the Raiders' young secondary, potentially featuring multiple rookies, experienced predictable growing pains. Players like Jermod McCoy, Zeke Masses, and Treydan Stukes showed encouraging moments but also demonstrated the learning curve associated with inexperience, with mistakes being more severely punished by the Texans' offense.
The interior defensive line also faced difficulties in stopping Houston's running game, with the Texans often generating movement at the point of attack. This is an area the Raiders acknowledge needs improvement, including finding a more dominant interior presence and building depth at the position. Opportunities to address this through trades or the waiver wire may arise as teams finalize their rosters.
The joint practice with the Texans provided uncomfortable but valuable information for the Raiders, highlighting issues across multiple levels of the roster as the team prepares for the upcoming regular season. The preseason game on Thursday will serve as the next opportunity to see how quickly the team can process these lessons and implement necessary corrections.