Raiders Preseason Insights and Bright Spots | Las Vegas News

The Raiders’ preseason opener ended in a 27-14 loss to the Cardinals, but the night was packed with intrigue: new leadership under GM John Spytek and Tom Brady, a heartfelt tribute to fallen officer Austin Abdelnabi, and promising glimpses from key players. Klint Kubiak called a clean first drive, and the offense finally ran the ball effectively on third downs. Rookie QB Fernando Mendoza shined with a 10-of-16, one-touchdown, zero-interception performance, while Kirk Cousins also led well. Mike Washington Jr. dazzled with a 53-yard run and versatile playmaking. Meanwhile, Jordan Meredith’s penalty and Tommy Eichenberg’s costly error raised red flags, while Cody Lindenberg and Patrick Johnson impressed with smart plays and flashes of potential. AJ Cole’s leg might need registering, but Cian Slone dominated with a powerful sack — proving he’s ready to compete. Preseason is about progress, and this game delivered plenty of it. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/808acd55a65c69a7