LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Raiders completed their final training camp practice Monday before traveling to Houston for their only road game of the preseason and their sole joint practice of camp.
Players value joint practices
Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said joint practices carry more significance for players than the preseason game itself.
“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, 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,” Pola-Mao said.
Defensive tackle Adam Butler said facing a different opponent provides more value than practicing against teammates.
“You get a lot more out of it because going against our team, our team does one thing, but somebody else does another. 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,” Butler said.
MORE ON FOX5: Raiders sign DT Folorunso Fatukasi, place LB Brennan Jackson on injured reserve
Intensity expected to rise
Butler said joint practices test players’ temperament as competition for roster spots intensifies.
“It’s supposed to be mayhem. 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,” Butler said.
Pola-Mao said the defense expects a physical atmosphere.
“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,” Pola-Mao said.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the team’s standards will carry over to Houston.
“Well, things shouldn’t change. The intensity is going to ramp up, but the standards that we have here should carry over to Houston,” Kubiak said.
Mendoza drawing attention
Fernando Mendoza will again draw attention after throwing his first NFL touchdown in the preseason opener. Kubiak did not detail specific plans for how the team will approach practice or play against the Texans.
“We’ll have a plan ready for how we want to practice against the Texans and how we want to play and I’m going to keep that in-house,” Kubiak said.
Player updates
Brock Bowers and Tonka Hemingway returned to the field Monday after missing Sunday’s session. Jackson Powers-Johnson, who is competing for the starting right guard spot, left practice midway through Monday’s session and did not return.
The Raiders and Texans will hold their joint practice Tuesday. The preseason game is set for Thursday at 5 p.m., broadcast on FOX5, with Raiders Pregame Live starting at 4:30 p.m.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
