Jordan Meredith Moving Toward Raiders’ C Job; Latest On Team’s CB Situation
Jordan Meredith has been involved in two position battles this year; the second of those has proven transformative. Shifting from guard to center, Meredith is moving toward commandeering the starting job in Pete Carroll‘s first Raiders season.
Playing only guard last season (365 snaps at LG, 209 at RG), Meredith began his offseason battling for a starting position there. As training camp progressed, however, the Raiders have liked what they have seen from the former UDFA at center — to the point he now appears the favorite (per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) to open the season as the starter.
Meredith looks to have nearly changed the Raiders’ snapper plan, which had been centered (no pun intended) around Jackson Powers-Johnson. But the 2024 second-round pick, after working at center during the offseason program, is now competing at right guard with free agency addition Alex Cappa. This would leave either a second-round pick or an ex-Tom Brady teammate who has 96 career starts on the bench.
“Jordan is really holding on to his spot,” Carroll said. “I really like him playing there for us. I think it just helps everybody, and that’s a real positive aspect if your front cover and your center can really communicate, be consistent and be on point all the time.”
Meredith, 27, made eight starts last season but just one over his previous two years. He has impressed a new coaching staff, however, to the point Powers-Johnson — the 2023 Rimington Award winner who became a No. 44 overall pick under Tom Telesco — may not start. Though, Cappa has missed more than a week with a rib injury and has not played in the preseason. That has given Powers-Johnson (14 rookie-year starts at guard and center) a chance to make his RG case; only 29 of Powers-Johnson’s 956 rookie-year snaps came at guard. Dylan Parham is set to start at left guard. Cappa has not worked as a backup since his 2018 rookie season; he is tied to a two-year, $11MM deal ($5.5MM guaranteed).
Cornerback also features a notable position battle. Although Eric Stokes is moving toward his second-chance season involving a Week 1 starting role, third-round rookie Darien Porter‘s grip on the other Las Vegas perimeter job may be slipping as a result of an unlikely source. Kyu Blu Kelly, a 2023 draftee already on his fifth team, is pushing Porter, per Bonsignore, who notes the young journeyman is “tightening his grip” on the first-string job.
Moving from Baltimore to Seattle to Green Bay to Washington to Vegas, Kelly played in four Raider games as a backup last season. His Seahawks stop also came during Carroll’s final season in charge. It would be quite the development if a player cut that many times in two seasons commandeered a starting job by Year 3 — even considering Carroll’s past developing Day 3 cornerback draftees — but Bonsignore notes he started the Raiders’ second preseason game. Carroll said Kelly (zero NFL starts) has “made the push” to be considered for a starting spot.
Stokes residing as the elder statesman among the team’s boundary corners shows how young the Raiders now are at this position. A potential addition is something to monitor as well. Barring a starter-level add, Kelly could have quite the opportunity. Though, such an ascent might be as a placeholder while Porter — chosen in Round 3 and used as a starter for most of the Raiders’ spring and summer work — develops into that role.
AFC West Notes: Broncos, Adams, Perryman
Nik Bonitto played in the Broncos‘ preseason opener but will miss some time leading up to the season. The 2024 All-Pro selection is down because of a procedure to have a bone spur removed in the top of his foot, per 9News’ Mike Klis. Sean Payton expects Bonitto to be ready to return by next week, though it can be safely assumed the edge rusher’s preseason is over. The Broncos also have an extension to sort out with Bonitto, who is entering a contract year. Denver has reached agreements with Courtland Sutton and Zach Allen during training camp, and a few Bonitto contract rumors have circulated this offseason.
This injury rehab stretch could give Bonitto’s camp time to hammer out a deal before the team’s top sack artist returns to practice, though the prospect of a Micah Parsons Cowboys extension raising the market’s ceiling — and thus the kind of deal Bonitto could command south of Parsons’ price point — could factor into the proceedings here.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- Another injury development coming out of Denver is not as kind. Fullback/tight end Nate Adkins will miss regular-season time due to a tightrope procedure to address a high ankle sprain, Payton said. Adkins could be a candidate for one of the Broncos’ two allotted August IR-return slots. Teams must announce the players for those spots by roster-cutdown day August 26. Those moves count toward teams’ eight injury activations — whether the player is eventually activated or not — in-season. Adkins played a healthy amount of snaps last season, logging 420 during a 10-start season. He caught 14 passes for 115 yards and three TDs last season, his second with the Broncos.
- The Broncos might need to consider a fourth active-roster RB due to J.K. Dobbins‘ injury history; their early hierarchy may exclude a 2024 draft pick. Audric Estime did not enter the team’s preseason opener until the third quarter, as his entrance came after Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie saw action. The Broncos also have Blake Watson as a candidate, and the 2024 UDFA entered the game in the second half as well. Estime is firmly on the roster bubble, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. It would not surprise if the team aimed to trade one of its options before cutdown day later this month, but ensuring two of these players are rostered behind Dobbins and R.J. Harvey would make sense as well.
- Jamal Adams is vying for a Raiders roster spot and doing so, technically, at a new position. Adams is giving linebacker another try, confirming (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) Pete Carroll told him immediately he would be working there. The Seahawks had asked Adams to play linebacker before, but he declined at the time. The 2024 Seattle cap casualty played sparingly as a backup with the Titans and Lions, representing a steep fall from formerly signing a safety-record extension. Adams’ best work has always come in the box or as a safety blitzer, making a linebacker transition more natural. On a one-year, $1.26MM contract with no guarantees, the ninth-year vet is also not exactly in a position to refuse such a request.
- The gun charges against linebacker Denzel Perryman has been dropped, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes. Perryman was arrested on felony weapons charges during a traffic stop earlier this month. Five firearms, including two assault-style rifles, were found in the Chargers defender’s vehicle. He was initially held without bail, but ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim notes Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman declined to file charges. Perryman is on a one-year, $2.66MM deal to continue a second Chargers stint.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: RB Marcus Major
Chicago Bears
- Reverted to IR: S Major Burns
Cleveland Browns
- Waived from IR: WR Luke Floriea
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): WR Kawaan Baker
- Reverted to IR: CB Isaiah Dunn, RB Jalen White
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Tre’ McKitty
- Placed on IR: TE Dalton Keene
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Marcus Haynes
- Placed on IR: WR D.J. Montgomery
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Keni-H Lovely
- Released from IR (injury settlement): CB Levi Wallace
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Waived/injured: CB Jordan Oladokun
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Cam Gill, LB Max Tooley
- Reverted to IR: C Zeke Correll
New England Patriots
- Reverted to IR: RB Deneric Prince
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: WR Bub Means, TE Mason Pline
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
- Placed on IR: DE Bradlee Anae, DE Demone Harris, LB William Bradley-King
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reverted to reserve/PUP: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Brian Asamoah II
- Waived: LB Otis Reese
- Reverted to IR: LB Anfernee Orji
The Titans swapped linebackers today, replacing Otis Reese with Brian Asamoah II. The latter was waived by the Vikings yesterday, but he’ll quickly land on his feet in Tennessee. The former third-round pick spent three years in Minnesota, collecting 30 tackles in 46 games. 802 of his 990 snaps came on special teams. He’ll be taking the spot formerly held by Reese, who started five games for the Titans over the previous two seasons.
Saints Lose OL Will Clapp For Season
The Saints have lost another piece of interior offensive line depth with center Will Clapp joining guard Nick Saldiveri on season-ending injured reserve, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
Clapp, 29, is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He was listed as the Saints’ second-team center on their unofficial depth chart; now, New Orleans will have to find a new backup to Erik McCoy.
The job will likely fall to veteran Shane Lemieux, who recently re-signed with the Saints after Saldiveri’s knee injury. Lemieux, currently listed as the backup right guard, started four games as the team’s center in 2024. A majority of his experience prior to arriving in New Orleans last year came as a left guard for the Giants, making the 28-year-old a valuable multi-positional backup for the 2025 season.
Clapp’s injury could also help second-year UDFA and third-team center Kyle Hergel make the 53-man roster. Even if Lemieux holds down the backup center role, his potential to be needed at guard may keep Hergel around as an emergency center.
The Saints also worked out a number of veteran offensive linemen, according to Underhill. including Cody Whitehair, Scott Quessenberry, and Nick Harris. However, New Orleans decided to sign a less experienced option in Mike Panasiuk, who also tried out on Tuesday. Panasiuk, 27, spent time with the Raiders, Panthers, and Colts as a defensive tackle before converting to center last year, but has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Clapp, meanwhile, will spend the season rehabbing his foot. Lisfranc injuries are notoriously tricky to recover from, so shutting him down this early in the year should give him a chance at getting back on the field in time for the 2026 season.
The seven-year veteran is in his second stint with the Saints after starting his NFL career in New Orleans as a seventh-round pick in 2018. He started seven games across his first four years with the Saints before signing with the Chargers in 2022 to back up center Corey Linsley. Clapp took over the starting job when Linsley stepped away from the field due to a health issue, but ended the season on the IR with a knee injury. The Chargers went in a different direction when replacing Linsley in the offseason, and Clapp signed with the Bills ahead of the 2024 season. He didn’t appear in a game until Week 18, when he started at right guard and played every snap.
In addition to placing Clapp on the IR, the Saints also waived tight end Mason Pline with an injury designation, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. With a third spot opened by waiving injured wide receiver Chris Tyree, New Orleans signed tight end Seth Green, defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, and wide receiver Roderick Daniels, per Terrell.
Raiders Could Pursue CB Addition
The Raiders’ secondary will look much different in 2025 than it did last year. Further changes could be coming at the cornerback spot in particular. 
[RELATED: Recapping Raiders’ Offseason]
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes it would not come as a surprise if a cornerback addition were to be made prior to Week 1. Former Packers first-rounder Eric Stokes – added this spring via free agency – is in line to operate as a starter on the perimeter. The top slot job, meanwhile, looks to belong to Darnay Holmes, who handled a rotational during his debut Vegas campaign.
As for the other first-team gig on the perimeter, training camp has resulted in a number of corners receiving a look. Third-round rookie Darien Porter has enjoyed a strong summer so far, per Bonsignore, and he has a strong chance of beating out 2024 fourth-rounder Decamerion Richardson as a result. The team’s depth chart ahead of this week’s preseason action lists Porter as a starter and Richardson as a backup, although of course that does not offer any finality on the matter.
Per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Kyu Blu Kelly received a portion of first-team reps during today’s practice. The 2023 draftee has made only 12 appearances to date in his career, although four of those came with the Raiders last season. Kelly is listed as a backup on this week’s depth chart, but he has two more preseason contests to attempt to play his way into a starting gig.
The likes of Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas and Kendall Fuller remain unsigned at this point, and they could be added on a one-year deal to offer experience and starting-caliber play at the CB position. Vegas has nearly $35MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if a short-term addition is deemed necessary later this summer.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Brittain Brown, CB Kaleb Hayes, S Mark Perry
- Waived/injured: DB Ameer Speed
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Christian Holmes, CB Darius Rush
- Waived: WR Luke Floriea, OT Roy Mbaeteka
Denver Broncos
- Reverted to IR: DL Matt Henningsen
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: DT Marlon Davidson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway
- Waived: WR Kawaan Baker
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles
- Waived/injured: TE Anthony Torres
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): G Michael Gonzalez
- Placed on IR: OT Matt Nelson
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
- Waived: DT Bryce Ganious
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch, DB Mikey Victor
- Waived: TE D.J. Thomas-Jones
- Waived/injured: DB Cameron McCutcheon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Trevis Gipson
- Activated off active/PUP: OL Andre Dillard
- Waived: QB Tanner Mordecai
- Placed on IR: RB Ameer Abdullah
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala
- Waived: CB Kam Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB JayVian Farr, RB Jase McClellan
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
A handful of players injured in the first week of the preseason were placed on IR today, effectively ending their seasons early. These players won’t be allowed to play for their current squads in 2025, although they could place elsewhere if they’re released from injured reserve (often via an injury settlement).
Among those who landed on IR includes Texans DT Marlon Davidson, who remained in his team’s preseason opener after suffering a biceps injury. Vikings lineman Matt Nelson also suffered a biceps injury that will land him on IR. The veteran just joined Minnesota last week.
In addition to bringing back old friend Jeff Wilson, the 49ers made a handful of additional moves today. This includes shifting veteran RB Ameer Abdullah to injured reserve. Abdullah suffered a rib injury that will prevent him from taking the field with San Francisco this season. The veteran is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024, when he compiled 572 yards from scrimmage in 16 games (three starts) with the Raiders. The 49ers also added defensive lineman Trevis Gipson, who started 19 games for the Bears between 2021 and 2022.
Raiders, S Terrell Edmunds Agree To Deal
Terrell Edmunds recently visited the Raiders, and that workout clearly went well. The veteran safety has an agreement in place, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The team has since announced the move. 
Lonnie Johnson Jr.‘s broken fibula has left the Raiders short on depth in the secondary. A return at some point during the regular season is expected, but the Edmunds visit was arranged knowing Johnson will be unavailable for a stretch. Now, Edmunds will have the remainder of training camp and the preseason to audition for a roster spot.
The former first-rounder operated as a full-time starter from 2018-22 with the Steelers. Since then, Edmunds has not managed to earn much in the way of defensive playing time. A return to Pittsburgh took place last season, following a run of backup gigs with the Eagles, Titans and Jaguars. Second-team action should also be in store upon arrival in Vegas.
The Raiders lost Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps during free agency while signing Jeremy Chinn as a new safety starter. Isaiah Pola-Mao was also retained, allowing him to remain a first-team contributor as well. Thomas Harper and Christopher Smith are also in the mix, and Edmunds will look to compete with those two for a role ahead of roster cuts at the end of the month.
In a corresponding move, receiver Seth Williams has been waived with an injury designation. The 25-year-old will revert to injured reserve once he goes unclaimed. After that, a release by means of an injury settlement will likely take place.
Raiders Work Out Terrell Edmunds, Expect Lonnie Johnson Jr. To Return During Season
Already authorizing significant changes in their secondary after losing the likes of Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs and Marcus Epps in free agency, the Raiders will see one of their imports sidelined for a while.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. sustained a broken fibula during a weekend scrimmage, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. Although Johnson has not started a game since 2021, the former second-round pick had been a key backup during a journeyman career. He had also been seeing regular time with the Raiders’ top defense, moving to safety when Jeremy Chinn would slide into the slot in sub-packages.
This represented a bump for Johnson, who has combined to play 300 defensive snaps over the past three seasons, but this is not viewed as a season-ending injury. Pete Carroll said (via Bonsignore) a genuine belief exists Johnson will be able to return this season, “sooner rather than later.” Yes, Carroll was known as rather optimistic regarding injuries during his Seahawks tenure, but Johnson having a chance to return from a broken leg in-season is certainly notable news for the Las Vegas secondary.
Johnson, 29, has played for four teams over the past four seasons. That does not include a nonplaying stint with the Chiefs, who acquired him via trade in 2022. Johnson spent three years with the Texans before migrating to the Titans (2022), Saints (2023) and Panthers (’24). The Raiders added him on a one-year, $1.69MM deal that came with just $175K guaranteed.
The small guarantee would give the Raiders a minimal dead money penalty to move on after this injury, but for now, Johnson does not appear likely to be cut as a result of this major setback. The Raiders can either use one of their allotted two IR-return designations before setting their 53-man roster to stash Johnson, but such a move would count against the team’s eight-activation total. The other option would be carrying Johnson through to their 53-man roster and then placing him on IR, retaining some flexibility in the event the team passes on using an injury activation on the nomadic DB during the season.
The Raiders will need some help at safety, even in a depth role. On that note, Terrell Edmunds stopped through Las Vegas for a Tuesday workout, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Edmunds, 28, has drifted off the starter track since a five-year Steelers stint (75 starts) ended after the 2022 season. While Edmunds made it back to Pittsburgh for a 2024 cameo, he had since been primarily a backup with the Eagles, Titans and Jaguars.
Vegas signed Chinn to work as a starter and re-signed Isaiah Pola-Mao to do the same. Thomas Harper and Christopher Smith filled in for Johnson after the injury, per Bonsignore. Smith is a 2023 fifth-round pick, while Harper — a 2024 Chargers UDFA — joined the Raiders via waiver claim last August.
Raiders Trade CB Jakorian Bennett To Eagles For DT Thomas Booker
In a rare preseason player-for-player deal, the Raiders are trading cornerback Jakorian Bennett to the Eagles in return for defensive tackle Thomas Booker, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Both players will have to pass a physical for the trade to go through, according to The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena.
Bennett, a 2023 fourth-round pick, started four games as a rookie before stepping into a bigger role with seven starts in 2024. He commanded a 71% snap share in the Raiders’ first 10 games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. Despite seeming to prove himself in Las Vegas, Bennett may not have fit into new head coach Pete Carroll‘s plans for this season.
The Raiders are confident in their other cornerbacks, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, including free agent signing and projected starter Eric Stokes. Bennett had been working consistently with the Raiders’ second-string defense, per ESPN.com’s Ryan McFadden. Stokes and third-round rookie Darien Porter had been receiving most of the first-team reps, and Bennett will receive a fresh start. Two years remain on his rookie contract.
In Philadelphia, Bennett is expected to compete for the Eagles’ open outside cornerback job with Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has indicated that neither player has stood out at this point, and Bennett could mix up the competition further.
Booker, meanwhile, was deemed surplus to requirements in the Eagles’ talented young defensive line room with players like Gabe Hall and Byron Young impressing in training camp, per the Inquirer’s EJ Smith. Originally a 2022 fifth-round pick by the Texans, Booker appeared in 10 games as a rookie but was waived during roster cuts in 2023. He spent the year on the Eagles’ practice squad, earned a 53-man roster spot in 2024, and appeared in every game during the team’s championship season.
Booker will now join a Raiders defensive line room that just lost Christian Wilkins as well as 2024 starter John Jenkins earlier in the offseason. Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, and Zachary Carter are all returning from last year’s unit with a handful of inexpensive veterans and rookies behind them. Booker will join that group competing for a depth role, though his 53-man roster chances are boosted by the fact that the Raiders moved to acquire him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/25
Here are the minor NFL moves to close out the first weekend of August:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: OL Valentin Senn
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: T Ozzie Hutchinson
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): T Kilian Zierer
- Waived: FB Troy Hairston, WR Winston Wright
Dallas Cowboys
- Reverted to IR: T Matt Waletzko
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB David Long Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Kawaan Baker, TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- Waived: TE Pat Conroy, WR Kyle Philips
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: S Jaylin Simpson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Christian Johnstone
- Waived: CB BJ Mayes
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson, G Arlington Hambright
- Waived: WR Ramel Keyton, DE Devonte O’Malley
A couple more players waived with injury designations recently have made their way back to their teams on injured reserve.
In Philadelphia, Johnstone won an audition in which the Eagles worked out four longsnappers. This is Johnstone’s first NFL contract after going undrafted out of Appalachian State this year.