Hall of Fame Game: Four things to monitor for the Jaguars vs. Raiders

Veterans Unlikely to Play

The preseason is a time for veterans and rookies alike to begin ramping up their bodies for the regular season. There are now only three preseason games (aside from these two teams of course), so each one has become more important as a result. That being said, do not expect to see very many veterans on the field Thursday. Look for newly-drafted rookies and undrafted free agents to make their marks on the Hall of Fame Game instead.

Some key veterans for the Raiders that will likely not play on Thursday include: quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Davante Adams, tight end Darren Waller, and pass rusher Chandler Jones. One player that you might see out there is the No. 17 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft — Alex Leatherwood. With a new coaching staff, Leatherwood must prove that he’s worth sitting atop the depth chart at right tackle.

Some key veterans for the Jaguars that will likely not play on Thursday include: quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running backs James Robinson and Travis Etienne, wide receiver Marvin Jones, and pass rusher Josh Allen. You should see some of the young wide receivers and defensive players working to solidify their place on the 53-man roster. The Jaguars selected at least five players that will be looking to steal reps from the players listed above them on the depth chart.

You rarely find out much about the top-10 players on your roster during the preseason, but the final ~10 spots are typically decided through on-field performance during the exhibition games and training camp. This is a time for a player to show what he brings to the table, but it’s more than just the offense and defense. Special teams for nearly every NFL team is still up in the air at the moment, and the preseason is a perfect opportunity for someone to show how important they are to the oft-forgotten about unit.

It may not be as much fun for the average fan when they tune in to a Raiders and Jaguars game without any of the star players playing. However, if you love monitoring positional battles and projecting the final 53-man roster, these next few weeks will be pivotal to that process. At minimum, Thursday should show both fan bases what they can expect from their new head coaches. I’ll have my popcorn ready!