The Las Vegas Raiders showed out in the Hall of Fame Preseason Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Some shined very brightly while others did not.
A 20-0 lead at the half culminated in a 27-11 victory for the Las Vegas Raiders over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 Hall of Fame Game.
Both teams had new head coaches, both having been part of Super Bowl success. Josh McDaniels with the Patriots and Doug Pederson with the Eagles. This time, it was McDaniels, returning to his hometown, that got to walk away with a victory feeling.
Still, it’s merely the preseason, and frankly, it’s an opportunity for the younger players and the backups to step on the field and showcase that they belong in the league and not in the free agent market.
That said, some players showed out on the historic ground for the Raiders while others left a lot to be desired. However, because it is the preseason, the “dud” label is not as unforgiving as it would be if this were a regular or postseason game.
Studs and Duds for the Las Vegas Raiders after the Hall of Fame Game against the Jaguars.
So who qualifies as a stud or dud in a preseason game? That’s tough to figure out, and the Las Vegas Raiders won so convincingly that finding a dud was quite tricky. Additionally, singling out just a few players who shined also equates to being disingenuous.
But that’s what we must do in this business, and among those who starred at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, there were a few that showed preseason or not, they belong on an NFL roster and should have the coach’s attention for the rest of the preseason.
Now that that has been established, here are the studs and duds from the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Las Vegas Raiders Stud No.1: QB Jarrett Stidham
Well, bless those scales and feathers; Jarrett Stidham has some wheels. The touchdown run by the former Patriots backup quarterback certainly had the fans of the Silver and Black giving him some worthy applause.
Additionally, he had a solid overall performance.
8/15 for 96 yards isn’t great, but the rushing touchdown gives him the approval to join the stud list for this game. Moreover, he seemed to manage the game better when he was playing and looked more comfortable, likely helping his case to be the backup quarterback for Derek Carr once the season begins.
Stats don’t tell the whole story; it’s what takes place on the field that matters most. Jarrett Stidham didn’t dominate, but he made enough plays to earn a “stud” title for this game, and more of these performances in the preseason can ensure his safety on the roster.
Las Vegas Raiders Stud No. 2: RB Austin Walter
The preseason shows us that unknowns will do anything to make the team or at least impress the coaching staff enough to ensure a good recommendation. In the case of Austin Walter, not only did he score a touchdown as well, but he ran pretty well and showed the ability to move the chains.
Eight carries for 49 yards, including a bruising 22-yard run, shows Walter has some talent and may be worth keeping around. Though he went undrafted back in 2019, the former Rice standout has fresh legs, having bounced around a bit, meaning by joining the Raiders, he would be helpful in any rotation.
Granted, it’s just one game, and, likely, Austin Walter may not replicate this performance for the rest of the preseason, but at least in this game, he got the attention of the public and head coach Josh McDaniels. That’s bound to mean something, and he deserves credit for it.
Las Vegas Raiders Stud No. 3: WR Tyron Johnson
Given how deep the wide receiver core is in Vegas and Mack Hollins’ struggles in this game, Tyron Johnson had to step up and show that he can compete with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Demarcus Robinson.
Johnson did that and portrayed speed in the process.
Two catches for 39 yards doesn’t seem like much, but one of those catches helped win a challenge, and at the same time, the ability to create separation is key.
Given how the AFC West plays physical with their cornerbacks, if Johnson does make the team, his separation will need to be used at a higher rate.
One game doesn’t tell the whole story. But we saw what Tyron Johnson could be if he continues to work on his craft to ensure that he is on the 53-man roster come the end of the preseason. He’s off to a good start, but as we all know, it’s how you finish that matters.
A fast start doesn’t hurt, though, and Johnson showed that against Jacksonville, to the delight of his teammates and coaches.
Las Vegas Raiders Dud No. 1: RB Kenyan Drake
Granted, Kenyan Drake only ran the ball five times and recorded nine yards, but that still isn’t enough of a performance to avoid being considered a “dud.” Nonetheless, he has plenty of time to make up for it and will likely do so.
Though the night mostly belonged to a resurgent Josh Jacobs and younger talents like Zamir White and Austin Walter, the latter scoring a touchdown, Drake and Jacobs are likely to secure their roles as the No.2 and 1 running backs for Josh McDaniels.
However, the way that White and Walter played means there is the possibility of four running backs making the roster and pushing each other. Still, White didn’t exactly shine much, so that’s why he has to earn this tag. Not to worry, though; he won’t be on this list for much longer.
Las Vegas Raiders Dud No. 2: OT Brandon Parker
Unfortunately, Brandon Parker gets this label after the small sample size against No.1 overall pick Travon Walker. Walker had his way with Parker for much of the time he was on the field and even recorded a sack.
Then again, as stated before, this is the preseason, but Parker gets a bit of a stricter look because though Walker did not dominate the stat sheet, it seemed that Parker could not consistently block Walker, which could be a concern down the road.
Parker is still good enough to play tackle in the NFL, and his massive frame helps him stand out from the rest of the Raiders’ offensive linemen. Still, this performance against the top overall pick in the most recent draft is a bit concerning but can be fixed with proper coaching.
Las Vegas Raiders Dud No. 3: WR Mack Hollins
One catch for minus one yard is not exactly good, and usually, it would be subject to a harsh amount of criticism. But not today.
Yes, it is a dud stat, but Mack Hollins deserves the benefit of the doubt as he mostly played a reserve role.
Still, it would have been nice to see him carve out enough of a performance to be a reliable option behind the three main guys. But the preseason is mainly for the lower end of the roster to show what talent they have and convince the coaches to keep them around. Tyron Johnson did his job, while Hollins did not.
For this week, Mack Hollins has to take the lower end of the stick, but given his resume, it’s fair to assume that this won’t be a consistent stat.
After all, it is the first game for everyone, and we all deserve a second chance. Right now, though, not suitable for Hollins, and that’s why he’s a dud for this game.