The Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason officially kicks off this Thursday, August 7, in a road game against the Seattle Seahawks. It will mark Pete Carroll’s debut as the Raiders’ head coach.
Preseason games are typically approached with caution when it comes to playing starters. But will the Raiders put their stars, like Brock Bowers, on the field in this opening game? Here’s what to expect.
Will the Raiders Play Brock Bowers and Other Starters in First Preseason Game?
The Raiders head into the 2025 season facing the tough challenge of competing in one of the NFL’s most brutal divisions. The AFC West sent three teams to the playoffs last year, while Las Vegas again finished at the bottom. That reality sparked an active offseason in Vegas.
The arrivals of Smith at quarterback and Carroll as head coach have injected a level of excitement the team hadn’t felt in years. Despite some departures, there’s a growing sense that a new era is on the horizon, driven by the culture Carroll aims to establish.
We could get our first look at that shift in Thursday’s game against Seattle. Carroll plans to play his starters, including Smith, Bowers, and other core players, as he wants the main rotation to start building chemistry early in the preseason.
#Raiders HC Pete Carroll said he plans to play the starters against the Seahawks on Thursday
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 5, 2025
Bowers was the team’s breakout star last year, setting the NFL rookie record with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. In his debut season, he earned First-Team All-Pro honors, establishing himself as one of the league’s elite tight ends.
This year’s offense has more firepower than in recent seasons. In addition to Bowers, the Raiders’ biggest new star is another rookie: running back Ashton Jeanty. Drafted sixth overall out of Boise State, he is expected to be one of the offense’s key pieces, and he’s likely to see action against Seattle.
The connection between Smith, Bowers, and Jeanty will be critical if the Raiders hope to compete within the division. Bowers remains the team’s best hope for a special offense, and with Smith now a steady, accurate quarterback, the tight end’s game could reach even greater heights.
It will also be interesting to watch Carroll and Smith reunite since Seattle. They worked together from 2020 to 2023, and Carroll was the coach who revived Smith’s career. Now, they’re teaming up once again to try to bring the Raiders back to life.
The Raiders’ game will kick off at 7 p.m. PDT and be broadcast on local channels.
