ClutchPoints
The first week of Las Vegas Raiders training camp under new head coach Pete Carroll has been as fascinating as it has been frustrating. With a mix of high expectations, roster turnover, and fresh energy, Carroll has brought a sense of urgency to a franchise desperate for relevance. Yet, even as optimism swirls in Henderson, some players have stood out for the wrong reasons. Their slow starts have become early talking points in camp.
How quickly can Pete Carroll turn things around in Las Vegas? From the moment he stepped into the building, the veteran coach has made it clear he’s not interested in a slow rebuild. Carroll’s mission is to make the Raiders competitive right away.
On paper, this offense has the weapons to stress defenses. The bigger question is whether the team can hover around .500. Of course, that depends heavily on the defense. Key contributors like Malcolm Koonce must return to full strength, and a handful of rookies need to step up quickly. Running back Ashton Jeanty is expected to be the focal point of the attack. Also, young receivers Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech and cornerback Darien Porter may be forced into significant roles earlier than expected. Will they be ready when the season kicks off?
Camp battles are already heating up on both sides of the ball.
On offense, the Raiders have shuffled their line combinations. Jordan Meredith has been snapping with the first team at center. Jackson Powers-Johnson nhas slid over to right guard, while Alex Cappa has seen second-team work at the same spot.
Defensively, Eric Stokes and Decamerion Richardson have opened camp as the top outside corners. New addition JT Woods has mixed in with the starters for a few reps. Meanwhile, Porter and Jakorian Bennett have mostly worked with the second team.
Amid these battles, three players have been under the microscope for all the wrong reasons. Here we’ll try to look at the three Las Vegas Raiders players on the roster bubble who must shine in the 2025 NFL Training Camp.
It’s hard to watch Devin White these days without thinking about the player he once was. The linebacker who built his reputation on speed, instincts, and fire looked like a shadow of himself not too long ago. Yes, he’s coming off an injury, but the joy seemed missing. We didn’t see a whole lot of the swagger that once made him one of the league’s most feared second-level defenders.
That said, Carroll has been quick to express confidence in White, telling reporters this week, “He’s back. He was on top of the world a few years ago, and then things just didn’t work out for one reason or another, but he’s back in action now. He came up to me and said, ‘I’m all in now,’ and he was dead serious in how he said it”
Of course, the work’s not done for White. He’ll still need...
