Raiders at Texans preseason: 9 players to watch Thursday
The Las Vegas Raiders play the Houston Texans in Preseason Week 2 on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT, and Tuesday's joint practice against the Texans depth chart left plenty of roster questions for both sides. Nine Raiders and several Houston standouts are fighting for jobs. From Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers to David Montgomery and Mike Washington Jr., these are the players worth watching before final cuts.
Key Takeaways
- The Raiders-Texans preseason kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. PT in Houston after a physical joint practice on Tuesday.
- Raiders rookies Mike Washington Jr., Jack Bech, and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa are fighting for roster spots after mixed debuts.
- Texans RB David Montgomery dominated joint practice, while C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense executed at a high level.
- Kirk Cousins may get another cameo after struggling against Houston's top defense in Tuesday's workout.
- Cornerback and special teams battles remain wide open on both depth charts heading into the game.
When and where is the Raiders-Texans preseason game?
The Las Vegas Raiders face the Houston Texans in their second preseason game Thursday with a 5 p.m. PT kickoff. For streaming and broadcast details, check our Streaming & TV Alerts hub before kickoff.
The matchup follows Tuesday's joint practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center, where both teams ran full-team periods against each other's starters. Head coach Klint Kubiak said the Silver and Black handled the hostile environment maturely despite testing themselves against a Texans defense that allowed the fewest yards in the NFL in 2025.
Which Raiders players are on the roster bubble?
Silver And Black Pride highlighted nine players to monitor after the Raiders' 27-14 preseason opening loss to Arizona. Second-year WR Jack Bech converted three third-down catches and blocked well, offering hope after an inconsistent rookie year. Undrafted kicker Kansei Matsuzawa doinked a 38-yard field goal and booted a kickoff out of bounds, intensifying his battle with Matt Gay for a 53-man roster spot.
Fourth-round RB Mike Washington Jr. adds another name to watch. He ripped a 53-yard run against the Cardinals and followed with big gains against Houston's first- and second-team defenses Tuesday, including a stiff-arm touchdown on Henry To'oTo'o. Undrafted DE Cian Slone recorded a sack in Week 1 and continues to flash.
Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Greedy Vance represent opposite trajectories. McCoy struggled in his first game since 2024 but looked sharper Tuesday, while Vance flashed as a nickel defender. WR Deven Thompkins averaged 30 yards per kick return and could earn a roster spot as a return specialist.
Which Texans stood out against the Raiders in joint practice?
Houston's offense stole the show Tuesday, led by RB David Montgomery. Limited during camp to preserve his health, Montgomery cut through the Raiders' interior for multiple explosive runs, including a seam burst to the second level after Stroud's opening three completions. Stroud later connected with Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Dalton Schultz throughout the session.
Tackle Blake Fisher repeatedly held his own against All-Pro Maxx Crosby, washing him down the line to spring Montgomery outside. Rookie WR Lewis Bond and RB Woody Marks also impressed, with Marks leveling Raiders FB Connor Heyward on a kickoff return. On defense, safety Jalen Pitre picked off Fernando Mendoza in the red zone for a pick-six, and CB Kamari Lassiter closed practice with an interception.
Will Anderson praised Mendoza's energy despite the turnover, telling Raiders.com the rookie quarterback "is going to be a really great quarterback in this league."
Will Kirk Cousins and the Raiders starters play Thursday?
Kubiak would not confirm whether starters will suit up this week, but Cousins appears likely to see action. The veteran was sharp in one series against Arizona and has camp momentum, yet he struggled during Tuesday's joint work against Houston's first-team defense. With the final preseason game against San Francisco expected to sit most starters, Thursday may be Cousins' last extended look before the regular season.
TE Brock Bowers was arguably the Raiders' best offensive player Tuesday, catching the first pass of the day from Cousins and finishing with a red-zone touchdown. Mendoza also received valuable reps against Houston's top unit, hitting Bowers and Thompkins on highlight throws while learning from his red-zone interception.