With Ashton Jeanty’s Raiders return unknown, Mike Washington preps for more

Key Points:

• The Raiders’ preseason finale against the 49ers is a crucial chance to resolve uncertainties about starting roles and assess young players who may take on significant responsibilities early in the season.
• Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. is under scrutiny to see if he can handle a larger workload and starting duties while Ashton Jeanty recovers from an ankle injury.
• Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has one more opportunity to close the gap with Kirk Cousins for the starting job by demonstrating efficiency, ball security, and command of the offense.
• The right guard competition between Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers remains unsettled, with Rogers needing to prove he can be a reliable starter given Powers-Johnson’s injury history.
• The Raiders will also evaluate which wide receivers can be trusted to execute the offense fully and which young defensive backs in the secondary have progressed enough to be dependable as the regular season approaches.