Darien Porter officially reclaimed his starting defensive job for the Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday, logging a solid 79 percent of the defensive snaps in their nail-biting 33-30 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. This third-round pick from the 2025 draft class clearly impressed, playing significantly more than rookie Zeke Masses, which pretty much solidifies his spot for now. Coach Klint Kubiak even mentioned he likes Porter’s makeup, so that’s a good sign for keeping the gig.
O-Line Shuffle and Special Teams Grind
The offensive line saw some significant shake-ups, with Caleb Rogers, another third-round pick, stepping in to take over for the benched Jackson Powers-Johnson. Rogers played every single snap for the second straight game. Coach Kubiak noted Monday that there was a mix of good and bad from Rogers’ performance against Buffalo, but he definitely highlighted that Rogers was prepared. The big question is, will this O-line shuffle stick? We’ll have to see. Meanwhile, Charles Grant, an offensive lineman also taken in the third round, didn’t see any offensive snaps, but he logged six plays on special teams.
Top Picks Struggle While Others Work Towards Return
Not every 2025 draft pick is having an easy time, though. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall draft pick, played a mere 58 percent of snaps on Sunday, which is well below his season average, even after he proclaimed himself as healthy as he’s been all season. Jeanty continued to struggle on the ground, tallying only 10 carries for a paltry 22 yards. And those drop issues in the passing game? Yeah, they continued too. Overall, his impact is still lacking, which is tough to watch from a top-10 pick.
On the injury front, second-round pick Jack Bech is on the injured reserve list with a fractured forearm and will likely be out for several more weeks. Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton, a fourth-round pick, is in his 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve after a hamstring injury and could potentially be activated this week. Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway, another fourth-round pick, sat out Week 6 because of a concussion he suffered in Week 5. He could return against the Rams and resume his starting role if cleared. Sixth-round defensive tackle JJ Pegues was active for only the second time this season, partly because Hemingway was out, and he played just three snaps against Buffalo. Seventh-round pick Cody Lindenberg contributed with 19 snaps on special teams.
So, what’s next for this crew? This Sunday, the Raiders are back at home facing the Los Angeles Rams. We’ll be watching to see if Porter can hold onto that starting defensive gig, if Rogers keeps his spot on the offensive line, and if Hemingway or Thornton can finally make their return to the field and boost the squad. Early season performance is crucial, and these guys are feeling the heat right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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