The Las Vegas Raiders started off the 2025 season on the right foot with a victory over the New England Patriots, but they have taken a step back over the past two games, suffering a pair of losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders. The season is still very young, but changes may need to be made in order for the Raiders to get back on track.
One unit that has struggled in the early going is the offensive line. Geno Smith has been under frequent pressure through three games, while star rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has had very little room to work with on the ground. With that in mind, one NFL analyst recently urged Las Vegas to make a change on their o-line that could help the offense as a whole improve.
Raiders Urged to Put Jackson Powers-Johnson Back into the Starting Lineup
In Week 3, the Raiders made a curious decision along their offensive line, as they opted to start Alex Cappa at right guard over starter Jackson Powers-Johnson. While Powers-Johnson missed Week 2 with a concussion, he was healthy for this game, which made the decision to turn to the veteran Cappa over him somewhat confusing.
Before the season started, Powers-Johnson was shifted from center to right guard, with the hope being that this would help elevate his play. While the line struggled when Powers-Johnson was on the field in Week 1, it wasn’t solely his fault, and even in his absence, things haven’t been much better, as Cappa does not look to be the same player he was earlier in his career.
Heading into Week 4, it remains to be seen whether or not Powers-Johnson will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup. If you ask Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, though, he believes that if Las Vegas is going to solve its myriad of issues on offense, it starts with putting together its best combination of offensive linemen, and that group includes Powers-Johnson.
“After he missed Week 2 with a concussion, the Raiders surprisingly started Cappa again in Week 3,” Nguyen wrote. “Carroll said after the game they thought starting Cappa again would help continuity on a short week after they played on ‘Monday Night Football,’ but that reasoning doesn’t hold much water. Powers-Johnson was cleared, and he’s simply a much better player than Cappa at this point in his career.”
Should the Raiders Start Jackson Powers-Johnson or Alex Cappa in Week 4?
GettyLas Vegas Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson.
The Raiders selected Powers-Johnson in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and while he hasn’t been great in the NFL to this point, it feels premature to give up on him so early in his career. While Las Vegas simply could have been trying to protect him by holding him out in Week 3, it doesn’t make much sense since he was healthy and cleared to play.
It will be telling who head coach Pete Carroll chooses to start on Sunday, especially with trade rumors beginning to pop up around Powers-Johnson. With a tough matchup against the Chicago Bears on their hands, the Raiders need all the help they can get, which would seemingly make it a smart idea to turn back to Powers-Johnson. With kickoff being scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, time will tell what Las Vegas’ plan is with its offensive line.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Analyst Urges Raiders to Make Big Move with Offensive Line appeared first on Heavy Sports.