The Las Vegas Raiders finally broke free from their four-game losing streak, taking down the New York Jets 38-33, but what really matters for the future? Their 2026 rookie class is straight up taking over, earning bigger roles, and looking ready to carry this team through the second half of the year. Forget just getting back to .500, these young guns are changing the whole vibe.
Offensive Rookies Stepping Up Big
Talk about a surprise! Running Back Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round draft pick, has been one of the biggest bright spots. He started the season behind Ashton Jeanty, but his aggressive running style and knack for churning out yards have earned him more and more playing time. Against the Jets, Washington Jr. went off, ripping off a career-best 25 rushes for 83 yards. That’s a solid 3.3 yards per rush, and he was involved in 60 percent of the team’s offensive plays, his most all year. Meanwhile, Jeanty only saw two carries. Washington Jr. had 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries (five yards per attempt) in the first four games, showing flashes. Now, with 278 total rushing yards and one touchdown this season, it’s clear the Raiders are putting some serious trust in him.
And get this, Offensive Lineman Trey Zuhn III, a third-round pick, just got his first career NFL start against the Jets. He’d barely seen the field before, with only five offensive plays the week prior against the Rams, but he stepped in at right guard for 63 offensive snaps. He was right there, protecting Kirk Cousins as the team clawed back for that late-game win. The coaches must love what they saw because Zuhn III is set to keep that starting spot against San Francisco. That’s huge for the offensive line stability.
Defensive Game Changers Ready to Lock It Down
On the defensive side, safety Treydan Stukes is already a major player. This second-round pick out of Arizona is a versatile beast, showing he can play multiple positions. He played every single one of the 64 defensive snaps against the Jets and even broke up a pass. In just the first four weeks, Stukes racked up 147 defensive snaps, snagging an interception, making 38 tackles, and defending four passes. This guy is a playmaker who’s constantly around the ball.
And don’t sleep on cornerback Hezekiah Masses. This dude was making plays with the ball right from the jump, hauling in three interceptions in the first four weeks of the season. Against the Jets, as the Raiders rotated their cornerbacks, Masses got 29 defensive snaps, about 45 percent of the plays. His early interception numbers prove he’s got that natural ability, but the focus for him now is finding that consistent coverage. He’s got 18 tackles and those three interceptions on the year.
This rookie class isn’t just filling holes, they’re changing the game for Las Vegas. With Zuhn set to continue starting and Washington Jr. clearly being trusted more, these guys aren’t slowing down. Keep an eye on Masses to lock in that coverage consistency, and watch Stukes continue to dominate on defense. The second half of the season just got a whole lot more interesting for the Raiders, all thanks to these young guns stepping up big time.
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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