Oakland Raiders: 5 Standouts from Preseason Week 1 vs. Rams
4. J.J. Nelson, WR
We knew we were going to get a good look at the Oakland Raiders wide receivers in this matchup given the Antonio Brown saga and the fact that Tyrell Williams wasn’t active for the game. That opened the door for pass-catchers lower on the depth chart to make an impact. Though he didn’t have an overly productive game, J.J. Nelson took advantage of the chance at hand.
The former Arizona Cardinal hauled in both of his targets for 43 yards on the night. However, one of his catches was a 38-yard reception that was one of the most impressive individual plays of the night for the Raiders offense.
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Nelson’s speed makes him a big-play threat when he’s on the field, especially if he can stay healthy. In what could be a potentially deep wide receiver room in Oakland, Nelson showed why he can carve out a role and play a valuable part of this offense in the 2019 season.
3. Trayvon Mullen, CB
As of right now, second-round rookie cornerback Trayvon Mullen might be the primary backup behind Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley. That makes sense considering Conley’s upside and Worley’s experience. However, if Mullen continues to play the way he did on Saturday night against the Rams throughout the preseason, he may earn more snaps than previously expected come the regular season.
Mullen didn’t register a tackle on the night but he showed solid coverage ability in addition to his propensity for making plays. He single-handedly made a big pass breakup while playing with the first-team defense early in the action to force a long third down for Los Angeles. When you watch the film, he showed solid prowess as a corner on a defense that could use that type of play and upside in the secondary.