All healthy starters expected to dress for Raiders; but will they play?

The Raiders final preseason game is set to begin in under an hour and the Raiders have not announced any healthy starters will be among those who won’t dress. Several starters have taken the field for warm-ups in full uniform, including quarterback Derek Carr. But whether he’ll play is another story.

The only player who will absolutely not dress is Mario Edwards Jr who is out with a hip injury and is expected to miss the first six games of the season.

It is customary that the majority of starters don’t play in a team’s final preseason game. Sitting this one out is reserved for those players who have locked up a starting job. Guys like Carr. Though the expectation has been for McGloin to take the field first at quarterback, there is always the chance that we see Carr and some others briefly.

Fielding your starters in this final game, even for a short time can be risky. Remember, Mario Edwards was lost to a hip injury in the preseason opener on just his tenth defensive snap of the game.

Additionally, these reserves and young hopefuls would like as much playing time as possible to show their wares either to get a legit shot at making the team, or before they are relegated to scraps and special teams play in the season.