HENDERSON, Nev. — Jermod McCoy said his emotions are already welling up before the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason opener Thursday night. The matchup with the Arizona Cardinals will be the rookie cornerback’s first game since Dec. 21, 2024; soon, a nearly 20-month hiatus from competitive football will be over.
McCoy missed the entirety of his final collegiate season at Tennessee after tearing his ACL during an offseason workout in January 2025. While he fully recovered from the injury, a cartilage issue in his knee had teams concerned about his short- and long-term health. Those worries forced a fall to the fourth round for a perceived first-round talent in April’s NFL Draft.
McCoy, who spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since the Raiders selected him 101st, said he never had any doubts that he would be able to play this year. But he said taking the field at Allegiant Stadium for the first time will mean something extra because of his journey.
“I’m gonna just look around, take it all in,” McCoy said. “Just remember at any point, this game can be taken from you. So just always cherishing these moments.”
Maxx Crosby is back in Las Vegas with a vengeance
Sam Warren
The Raiders have been managing McCoy’s knee since he arrived in Las Vegas, holding him out for the majority of their offseason program and one training camp practice so far. He said he is feeling good, however, and has been able to surpass the initial restrictions the team placed on his workload.
“I was on a little limit, but I’ve been able to exceed that,” McCoy said. “It’s been going real good for me.”
Aside from sitting out the team’s session Thursday, McCoy has participated in every competitive drill the Raiders have run during training camp. The corner has worked predominantly with the second and third teams in team periods and has gotten sporadic reps against the first-team offense. McCoy had some early rookie mistakes, which he acknowledged probably occurred because of rust. But he found his footing after a few practices and has looked solid in coverage since.
“I made a few plays and I felt real good,” McCoy said. “I was like, ‘OK, it’s ball again.’”
McCoy has shown a few flashes of why his talent is so highly regarded. Some tight coverage during one-on-ones and forced incompletions in team periods were reminiscent of his All-American campaign in 2024, when he had four interceptions and 13 passes defended for the Volunteers. McCoy said he has not quite returned to that level just yet, but he feels like he’s “almost there.” He credits Raiders wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero and the team’s training staff for helping him get to this point.
“From the day I came in until now, just the way I feel is just so much better,” McCoy said. “(Guerrero), all the guys in there, I just feel like they’ve been pouring into me. They done got me right.”
Through all the turbulence of the past few months, McCoy said he has tried to keep a level head. He learned to tune out the noise and focus on himself. But he said he couldn’t help it if his draft experience created a chip on his shoulder.
“That’s something that will be with me forever,” McCoy said. “I’m always gonna remember it. It’s gonna keep fueling me to push forward.”
McCoy will get his first chance to use that chip Thursday.
Cousins comes back strong
Quarterback Kirk Cousins and edge Maxx Crosby returned to team action Monday after being held out of Saturday’s practice by Klint Kubiak. The coach said their altercation Friday violated the team’s expectations and their actions deserved punishment.
Crosby remained disruptive in his return, causing pressure against the pass and blowing up an Ashton Jeanty run in the backfield. Cousins also shined, putting together one of his best practices as a Raider thus far.
The soon-to-be 38-year-old was dialed in from the jump. On his first throw of the day, he fired a touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers during a red zone team period. As the Raiders transitioned to move-the-ball periods, Cousins stayed strong. He audibled to a quick screen to receiver Dareke Young that went for big yards and let out a loud celebration afterward. Big plays to Bowers and receiver Tre Tucker came on ensuing snaps, and Cousins also connected with rookie receiver Malik Benson for an acrobatic reception down the sideline for a big gain.
Cousins’ best period was the team’s last. He commanded a two-minute drill down the field, finding Bowers and Tucker for chunk plays. Cousins then threaded a ball through three defenders to connect with receiver Jalen Nailor in the end zone.
While Kubiak said he is not married to Cousins starting the season at quarterback over No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza, he has consistently stated that Cousins was brought to Las Vegas to play high-level football. Cousins has done that so far in training camp, and he continues to look like the team’s QB1.
Revolving rookies
Monday’s practice saw two of the Raiders’ standout draft picks at different spots. Offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III worked exclusively at center with the second team, and cornerback Hezekiah Masses took some reps in the slot with the first team.
Zuhn began training camp working at center with the twos and right guard with the threes. But since the fourth practice, the third-round pick had been playing predominantly right tackle with the second team. Monday was the first time in a week that he played an interior position.
Kubiak and his staff have made it clear that Zuhn’s versatility was a big reason they drafted him 91st. He played both left tackle and center for Texas A&M in his five college seasons, winning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the SEC while playing both in 2025. The Raiders have used Zuhn exclusively on the right side and at center while moving him around. The rookie admitted the changes have been a challenge, but he is confident in his abilities to handle them.
“Whatever the team needs, I’m gonna be able to do,” Zuhn said. “I just have to lock in and be at that position because I’ve learned the playbook from a whole, so I know what everybody is doing. I just have to lock into the specific technique, and it’s becoming easier and easier every single day.”
Masses has impressed since arriving in Las Vegas as a fifth-round pick and earned opportunities because of it, battling Darien Porter for the team’s second starting corner position. But on Monday, he played in the slot at times, sharing the field with Porter and top corner Eric Stokes on the outside. It was the first time Masses got interior snaps as a Raider.
Masses played mostly outside corner in his All-ACC season with Cal last year, so Monday was a newer experience for him overall, not just in the NFL. But he has already looked like one of Las Vegas’ better defenders in the back end, and getting him, Stokes and Porter on the field together probably creates the Raiders’ best coverage unit. While it may be unfamiliar for the rookie, Masses is ready to tackle anything right now with the way he is playing.
“Yeah, I’m in that zone, 100 percent,” Masses said. “I’m just out there making plays and being myself. They’re calling great calls, and I’m just out there executing.”
