One of the biggest head-scratchers of Las Vegas Raiders training camp has been what’s going on with Jackson Powers-Johnson. Heading into the offseason, it seemed like a given he’d be the team’s starting center.
However, Jordan Meredith has been taking all of the first-team reps lately. Powers-Johnson is now getting work at right guard, and it doesn’t look like he even has that starting job locked down.
Richie Incognito spent 13 years playing guard at the NFL level, so he knows offensive line well. He had a chance to explain why the Raiders moved Powers-Johnson off of center.
“It comes down to the details,” Incognito said on Raider Nation Radio’s “Morning Tailgate.” “Because the [center] position is hard enough when you’re just running base offense and you’re going out there and you’re trying to set the table for the team. But when you’re going out there and you’re constantly changing situations and you’re changing first and 10, second and short, third and long, fourth and goal, these are all completely different scenarios and they all have their own rules.
“So for JPJ to be successful at center, he’d have to really, really study. He’d have to really, really dig in and know the intricacies of the offense, know the little details … and I think that’s what Jordan really gives them. He spent all summer studying the center position and you’re seeing that hard work and those details show up.”
Incognito Is a Fan of Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson has often been compared to Incognito due to his physical style of play. However, Incognito understood that it takes more than physicality to be a great offensive lineman.
He’s a fan of Powers-Johnson, but does think he needs to improve his technique.
“Jackson is a really talented kid. He’s athletic, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s physical. And the one thing I’d like to see him get is that technique,” Incognito said.
“Going out there and running around and causing havoc is great. But you know, on third and long in the fourth quarter, when you got to have it, you got to have good technique. So I think right now with the competition, you know, they know what they have with Jordan at center. And it’s all about Jackson proving that he can play with good technique, snap after snap after snap after snap.”
Will Powers-Johnson Start in 2025?
If Powers-Johnson is relegated to a backup role this season, that would be a huge change of fortune. He was a second-round pick last year, and many thought he could be the next great center.
Now he’s losing first-team guard reps to Atonio Mafi in practice. Alex Cappa is banged up right now, but he might take over at right guard once he’s healthy. It’s not entirely clear what Powers-Johnson is doing that has the Raiders down on him.
It could be as simple as they don’t think he’s as good as advertised. They may also just think he needs some work before he’s ready to be a full-time starter. Regardless, he’ll continue to be a player to watch ahead of the regular season.
