What to watch for in Raiders vs. 49ers

This Sunday, the Raiders will play their final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. These two teams square off frequently in the preseason, and this week’s game will be one more important installment. This third preseason game is one that will likely see many starters, but it’s by far the most important for the backup players who are fighting to make the roster. Lets take a look at some things to watch for this week.

Raiders’ Injury Issues

First, the Raiders have several players who will likely miss this game with some nagging issues. Nicholas Morrow, Javin White, and what seems like the linebacker group as a whole will be missing some time. Richie Incognite and Damon Arnette have also been dealing with injury problems lately, so it’s possible that they might miss Sunday’s action as well.

Unless they’re currently fighting for a roster spot, we likely won’t see any players who have been dealing with injuries, whether major or minor. There’s no reason for the coaching staff to risk injuries to any players, so expect the team be to very careful on that regard.

We’ll Get to See The Starters in Action

Well, the 49ers starters at least. Earlier this week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the 49ers would be “playing every starter” this week.

Many teams tend to do this towards the end of the preseason to get their starters up to game speed. The Raiders were likely going to play some of their starters anyways, but with the 49ers playing them as well, we might see players like Carr or Jacobs play a bit longer than usual to some extra reps against starting caliber players.

Players Fighting for Roster Spots

As always, the preseason is a crucial time for players who are making a bid for a roster spot. There are several players for the Raiders who are in a tight situation this week.

Trey Ragas is a player who needs a huge showing this weekend. Ragas has performed very well during training camp and the first two preseason games. Jalen Richard has been dealing with some injury issues, and that has opened the door for Ragas. However, Ragas needs one more strong showing this Sunday to really lock down that third running back spot.

On the defensive side of the ball, there are some battles going on around the field. Darious Philon had some off-the-field issues that caused him to miss the last two seasons, but after being signed by the Raiders this offseason, he’s had a strong showing in camp. He’s another player who can lock down a spot on the 53-man roster with a good game on Sunday.

Tanner Muse definitely has a roster spot locked down, but he’s fighting for more than that. Muse was listed as a starter in the team’s first official depth chart, and with injuries to Nicholas Morrow, Javin White, Nick Kwiatkoski and Darron Lee, that’s looking much more likely.

The Raiders linebacker depth that was deep just weeks ago is now paper thin. Still, the Raiders could be getting some of those players back soon, and likely at least one or two before the regular season starts. Muse is one of the men still standing in that group, and to get a starting spot, he will need to play well against the 49ers.

Game Details

Teams: Las Vegas Raiders @ San Francisco 49ers

Time: 1:00 PST

Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Streaming: CBS, NFL Network, Raiders Radio Network