Players gear up for joint practice against Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders’ training camp will be a little different today, Tuesday, Aug. 18, with a joint practice against the Houston Texans ahead of their preseason game on Thursday evening. On Sunday, head coach Klint Kubiak was asked about the session in Houston and said “the intensity is going to ramp up,” but the standards the Raiders have set for practice shouldn’t change.

Meanwhile, defensive tackle Adam Butler and safety Isaiah Pola-Mao are gearing up for “mayhem”.

“There’s no need for balance. It’s supposed to be mayhem,” Butler said about the intensity of joint practices. “It’s a joint practice. Everybody’s fighting for a spot. A lot of money on the line, people’s dreams are on the line, so it’s supposed to be mayhem.”

“Yeah, definitely,” Pola-Mao replied when asked about the defensive tackle’s comments. “It’s a little bit chaotic. You’ve got guys out there definitely ready for a fight, but that’s our mindset as a defense. Every play, we’ve got to go out there ready to punch somebody in the mouth.”

Both players also shared what they feel the team gets out of these sessions.

“You get a lot more out of it because going against our team, our team does one thing, but somebody else does another,” Butler explained. “Especially in the beginning weeks of training camp, you normally get just one look. Every team has their own different style and their own different schemes and stuff like that, and you have to adjust your game. You have to adjust your techniques to accommodate whatever schemes that they run. And it’s very beneficial to get those different looks. I’m excited.”

“It’s another day for everybody to get better together,” Pola-Mao said. “Going against another team, it’s just a good time for us…Preseason, coaches don’t want to show everything, but joint practices, definitely. We’ll see some things that we have been working on, so it’ll be good for us.”

This will be the Raiders’ first true measuring stick to see where they are as a team since the Texans are widely expected to be a playoff contender this season.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Candidates to lead Raiders in takeaways: “Surprised to see Pola-Mao atop the list? Despite facing competition from second-round pick Treydan Stukes, the 27-year-old veteran took the majority of snaps at free safety in 2025 and appears primed to man the spot again this coming season,” via S&BP’s Ray Aspuria.
• Training camp stars face tough test in joint practices: “Whether it’s in one-on-ones, seven-on-seven or the full team periods, [Malik] Benson will get a chance to prove himself against an elite secondary,” via S&BP. “And if he’s breaking free from the likes of [Derek] Stingley, [Kamari] Lassiter and [Jalen] Pitre, that’s a strong sign that the Raiders found a diamond in the rough with the sixth-round pick.”
• Kirk Cousins touchdown to Brock Bowers:Ryan McFadden of ESPN posted video with one of five touchdowns Cousins threw on Monday’s practice, connecting with Bowers this time.
• Early mock draft sends Texas wide receiver to Vegas: “‘Cam Coleman is a physically gifted pass-catcher with dominant traits and abilities,’” Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson said. “‘The 6’3″, 203-pound junior prospect is an explosive leaper with the catch-radius to win on 50/50 balls and back-shoulder fades. He can create a dynamic duo with star tight end Brock Bowers, allowing Mendoza to develop into the highly precise passer the Raiders need.’”