Sportsnaut
The Las Vegas Raiders opened their 2025 preseason on the road in a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. After a slow start, the Raiders battled back to finish in a 23-23 tie and provided plenty to discuss in the aftermath.
The Raiders revealed their potential starting offensive line, which may feature a key difference on the interior from last season. In the bigger picture, the unit needs to build more chemistry. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty didn’t have much room to run behind a line that’s still developing as a cohesive group.
Head coach Pete Carroll’s second- and third-string defenders must sharpen up on the basics for a better showing on early downs, but the secondary held its own against Seattle’s passing attack for most of the game.
Here’s a deep dive on three of the biggest takeaways from the Raiders’ Week 1 preseason outing.
Based on the snap counts from Thursday’s game, Jordan Meredith looks like the front-runner to start at center, while Jackson Powers-Johnson is the lead candidate at right guard.
Against the Seahawks, Meredith took all 40 of his snaps at center, and Powers-Johnson logged all 40 of his snaps at right guard. Unlike training camp practices, the two didn’t swap positions. The Raiders’ plans for both players seem clear following their first exhibition contest.
While that’s not necessarily negative, many expected Powers-Johnson to claim the pivot position. He won the 2023 Rimington Award as college football’s best center and lined up at both guard spots and center with Las Vegas last season. Meredith, now in his third year with the Raiders, has logged 707 snaps at guard, per Pro Football Focus.
With this combination, Alex Cappa — who’s taken some first-team reps at right guard — will likely serve as a backup for the regular season.
Jamal Adams brought All-Pro energy in his Raiders debut. He made multiple tackles early in the game and performed like the pre-injury player who was once a Pro Bowler with the New York Jets and Seahawks.
Whether it was the adrenaline of returning from injuries or facing his former team, Adams looked rejuvenated last Thursday.
At the beginning of training camp, Carroll told reporters that Adams would transition from safety to linebacker.
Pete Carroll on reuniting with Jamal Adams, who he said is switching over to WILL linebacker for the #Raiders:
“His style of play is so suitable for what we’re trying to do here with being about being aggressive and tough.” pic.twitter.com/tunHOfzK2z
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) July 25, 2025
If Adams can stay healthy and excel at his new position, the Raiders may have their strongest linebacker unit in several years with Germaine Pratt, Elandon Roberts and Devin White also in the rotation.
The Raiders’ run defense struggled with poor tackling angles and...
