What To Watch For In Raiders First Preseason Game

The Las Vegas Raiders face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in this year’s Hall of Fame preseason game. The first game of the NFL’s preseason takes place tonight, Thursday, Aug. 4, in Canton, Ohio, which precedes the Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 6.

There are two players with Raiders connections heading into the Hall of Fame, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and wide receiver Cliff Branch. The game can be heard on live Sactown Sports or seen on NBC/KCRA 3.

READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS: How To Watch & Listen To Raiders Preseason Game

Who’s playing?

Two of the arguably top players for the Jaguars are sitting out the NFL’s first preseason game.

Trevor Lawrence, last year’s first overall pick, is out. Travis Etienne, who suffered an injury last preseason that kept him out the whole year, is also out.

The Raiders have not announced if any players are sitting out. However, since it is a preseason game, they won’t last very long if the starters do play.

New coaches on both sidelines

Last year, both teams had ugly breakups with their coaches. The less said about each situation the better.

Now, they’re entering the 2022 season and with coaches who have winning experience.

So, who are the new coaches? During the off-season, the Jaguars hired Super-Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson. Before sitting out the 2021 season, Pederson last coached the Philadelphia Eagles, amassing a 42-37-1 record during his tenure. Pederson’s Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in the 2017 Super Bowl.

On the other side of the field, Josh McDaniels joined the Raiders after spending nearly 20 years with the New England Patriots, where he won six Super Bowls.

.@Raiders coach Josh McDaniels grew up in Canton and played his high school football games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

He returns to his home field ahead of tomorrow's @ProFootballHOF game.

"Surreal is probably a good word for it." (h/t @CantonRepdotcom) pic.twitter.com/xcPCcARijM

— NFL (@NFL) August 4, 2022

Return of Fresno State spark?

The Raider did a lot to rehaul their roster, but no move was bigger than acquiring Davante Adams, an All-Pro wide receiver from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for draft picks. The team then signed Adams to an extension worth $140 million over five years.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Adams spent time together in college at Fresno State. Apparently, they worked well together.

Davante Adams and Derek Carr spent two seasons together at Fresno State.

Adams owns a home in Las Vegas.

Adams numbers his two seasons with Carr:

2012 season: 102 catches, 1,312 yards, 14 touchdowns

2013 season: 131 catches, 1,719 yards, 24 touchdowns @gmfb @nflnetwork

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 17, 2022

Will that connection be on display during the preseason or will fans have to wait until week 1 of the regular season before we see the former Bulldogs light up opponents again?