The Las Vegas Raiders got a live test Tuesday in Houston, and it was Brock Bowers who made the first clean strike. He caught the first pass of the day from Kirk Cousins, later scored on a red zone throw from Cousins, and gave the Raiders an early answer against a Houston Texans group that made every rep feel like a snap from a game.
That is why this practice mattered now. The Raiders are heading toward a preseason game Thursday, and a joint session against a Texans defense that allowed the fewest yards in 2025 gave them a sharper measure than a normal workout. Kirk Cousins handled the brunt of the first-team reps under center, which made the day more than a passing drill; it was a real chance to see how the offense functioned when the pockets tightened and the speed picked up.
Klint Kubiak said the point of joint work is to get better without letting it turn into a fight or a melee, and he said he thought the Raiders were mature throughout the session. That showed up in the way the offense kept moving after the early burst from Bowers. Fernando Mendoza, who got valuable snaps against the Texans first-team defense, split multiple defenders over the middle to Bowers on one throw and then later found himself on the wrong side of a red zone sequence when Jalen Pitre picked him off.
That was the friction in the day. Mendoza had the kind of throws that make coaches keep the tape rolling, and he also had the kind of mistake that turns into a teaching point. He said he treats every practice like a game, but called the interception a learning experience and said he wants to move forward with a calm mindset. Will Anderson noticed the same edge from the rookie, saying he loved Mendoza's energy and the way he kept cheering on his line and teammates.
Mike Washington Jr., the fourth-rounder, also made the most of his chances against the Texans first- and second-team defense, giving the Raiders another piece to sort through before Thursday. The depth chart did not announce itself by changing in one practice, and that is the point: this was about film, not a final answer. The Raiders will review it before the preseason game, and the next read on this group will come when the reps become live again.
