Klint Kubiak and the Las Vegas Raiders got a mixed bag of news on Day 8 of training camp, featuring some key players
The Las Vegas Raiders had rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy back on Friday after missing practice, while rookie defensive end Keyron Crawford and wide receiver Jalen Nailor were out.
The Las Vegas Raiders received a mix of good and bad news during their eighth training camp practice on Friday.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy returned to the field after missing the previous session, but wide receiver Jalen Nailor and rookie defensive end Keyron Crawford were both absent. For a Raiders team trying to build chemistry and establish its depth chart before the regular season, every practice rep matters.
Jermod McCoy’s return is an encouraging sign
McCoy, who Las Vegas traded up to select with the first pick in the fourth round, was back on the field Friday after sitting out the prior practice. He could have been a top-10 pick in this draft, but knee concerns caused him to slide. The Raiders saw the ceiling and pounced, willing to take the medical risk in exchange for elite upside.
His return is a positive development. The fact that the absence appears to have been brief suggests the Raiders are simply managing his workload rather than dealing with a significant setback. Getting McCoy healthy and acclimated is critical for a cornerback room that still has questions about its final composition heading into the season.
Nailor and Crawford absences worth monitoring
On the other side of the equation, Nailor and Crawford both missed Friday’s session. Neither absence should set off alarm bells just yet, but both players are important pieces for the 2026 Raiders.
Nailor is set to be the No. 1 wide receiver in this offense. He has 1,000 career receiving yards across four seasons with 11 career touchdowns, including four scores last year and six the year before that, with 400 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. He put up those numbers in Minnesota alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Nailor can be a really good football player, but Las Vegas needs him on the practice field building rapport with its quarterbacks.
Head coach Klint Kubiak offered some reassurance after practice, saying Nailor is okay and that the Raiders had a few guys nicked up, adding the team is trying to be cautious with them.
That caution likely extends to Crawford as well. The third-round pick has not seen much action dating back to mandatory minicamp and OTAs, when he was frequently sidelined. The reason was never made entirely clear, but it appears he has been dealing with something the coaching staff wants to manage carefully.
Why Crawford’s health matters for the Raiders’ defense
Crawford’s availability is significant because of the role he could eventually play. He is the heir apparent to Maxx Crosby if anything were to happen, whether that means a trade or an injury. Crawford could be the next man up at defensive end, a position where the Raiders lack quality depth.
The pass-rushing ability Crawford showed on tape coming out of Auburn is exactly why Las Vegas invested a third-round pick in him. If he’s healthy, he has the talent to contribute as a rookie and develop into a long-term starter. If he’s not healthy, none of that potential means anything.
No reason to overreact
Friday’s news was a mixed bag, but none of it warrants panic. McCoy returning to practice is a good sign for a player the Raiders believe in enough to trade up for. Nailor and Crawford sitting out is worth watching, but Kubiak’s comments suggest the team is being smart with its banged-up players rather than dealing with anything serious.
This is training camp, and it’s only day eight. The Raiders have time to get everyone right before the games start counting.
