The Las Vegas Raiders held a joint practice with the host Houston Texans on Tuesday and, as head coach Klint Kubiak suggested might happen last week, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza did, indeed, get some work with the first-team offense.
Mendoza got extensive work with the first- team offense for the first time in training camp and it came against the Texans’ stout defense. He had some nice moments, but also struggled along with the rest of the Raiders’ offense. He and expected starter Kirk Cousins threw Pick 6s.
Kubiak wouldn’t say if the first team would play Thursday night against the Texans, but he did say Mendoza will get a lot of reps. He played from late in the first quarter until early in the fourth quarter against Arizona last week.
In other notes from the joint practice:
- While it seemed like the Texans’ defense won the day, the Raiders’ had some highlights. Tight end Brock Bowers had some nice plays. Running back Ashton Jeanty made some plays in their receiving game and rookie running back Mike Washington had some big runs against the Texans’ second-team defense.
- The Raiders’ defense, especially the run defense, struggled in the practice. Maxx Crosby, who got in a brief scuffle, had good pressure and linebacker Quay Walker had an interception.
- Right tackle D.J Glaze struggled against Houston’s star pass-rusher Will Anderson.
- Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson didn’t practice after getting hurt in practice Monday. Kubiak said he doesn’t expect Powers-Johnson to play Thursday against the Texans. ESPN reported the injury isn’t considered serious. Receiver Dont’e Thornton didn’t practice and he has been out for more than a week.
- Rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy got some work with the first-team defense.
- Kubiak’s father, Gary, who once was the Texans’ head coach and who is a Houston native, as at the practice.
- Raiders’ part owner Tom Brady was at the practice as he was at the preseason opener last week.