How does Josh McDaniels view the Raiders’ offensive line after second preseason game?

When the Las Vegas Raiders start the 2022 NFL season, Josh McDaniels will determine the starting five up front that will give the team its best chance to protect Derek Carr.

Then again, Carr has always had a quick release so he may be able to overcome a lot of the potential issues in pass protection. Still, having the time to throw the ball deep to Davante Adams, Mack Hollins and Co. will surely be beneficial.

That begins with the play of the offensive line.

The Raiders continued to work to find the right mix along the line in a 26-20 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. And the coach came away with some positives.

“We told them since the first day we got here that this is going to be a situation where guys earn their opportunities and they’ll determine their role,” he said.

“We felt like there’s been a lot of healthy competition in practice and last week we started a certain group against Jacksonville. We felt like practice this week pushed that competition even further and wanted to go ahead and give a few other opportunities today and I thought we did that by moving some guys in and out inside and starting there at the right side. For a young guy, (Thayer Munford has) done a nice job for himself and earned the opportunity that he had today. It was a good thing to see from all those tackles.”

Starting the game were left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, left guard John Simpson, center Andre James, right guard Lester Cotton Sr. and Munford at right tackle.

They held their own for backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, providing protection even without regular left tackle Kolton Miller, who was rested.

For the Raiders to have success in 2022, especially in a highly competitive AFC West, the offensive line needs to improve early and continue to get better — unlike last season when it started slowly before at least finding some rhythm.

Pro Football Focus in June listed the Raiders’ line in Tier 6 (Problematic, 29th) ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.

This was before Denzelle Good retired and it also listed right tackle Alex Leatherwood as a projected starter.

Leatherwood didn’t see playing time in the second preseason game until the third quarter, at right tackle.

He provided protection on the opening drive for the Raiders in the second half that led to a touchdown pass by Nick Mullens to D.J. Turner.

Leatherwood struggled last season, finishing as the second-lowest graded starting guard by PFF.

Carr was sacked 40 times, but still finished the season with 4,804 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.

McDaniels said there is time for the Raiders to find the right starting combo and is looking forward to seeing how the competition plays out.

“We allow these opportunities to be determined by what we see and how they perform in practice,” he said. “Maybe there are some guys that didn’t start tonight for one reason or another that will be starting on opening day at some point.

“The competition is real. It’s ongoing and I think it’s the healthiest thing we have going for us in the locker room because it makes everyone better.”

Who impressed for Raiders vs. Vikings?

Turner made a name for himself.

And he did so both as a wide receiver and as a kick returner.

Turner had the 34-yard touchdown catch on the throw from Mullens and his lone punt return went for 26 yards to the Las Vegas 43-yard line.

It is not known how many receivers the team will keep, but Turner helped keep himself in the conversation.

Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Hollins are locks.

Demarcus Robinson, Keelan Cole, Turner, Isaiah Zuber, Chris Lacy, Tyron Johnson and Justin Hall are fighting for the remaining roster spots.

The first round of cuts is Aug. 16, when teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 85 players. The next ones will be by Aug. 23 (with rosters trimmed to 80).

The initial 53-man roster must be finalized by Aug. 30.

Who sat out for the Raiders vs. Minnesota?

Carr and Adams rested in the preseason home opener.

Others who did not see action versus the Vikings included defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones; cornerbacks Nate Hobbs, Anthony Averett, and Rock Ya-Sin; linebackers Denzel Perryman and Divine Deablo; tight ends Darren Waller and Foster Moreau; running back Josh Jacobs; Renfrow at wide receiver; Miller at left tackle; guard/tackle Brandon Parker; and defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell.

Averett, Ya-Sin, Waller, Parker, Deablo and Ferrell didn’t practice during the week

Carr back in NFL Top 100

The NFL Network on Sunday announced that Carr was ranked No. 65 among the Top 100 players of 2022, as voted on by his fellow players — the first time the former Fresno State star has achieved that status since 2018.

The annual survey is based on how players performed the previous year. Sunday’s players included those ranked 51 to 100.

The top 50 will be posted across the next two Sundays, with Adams who will be included.

Carr finished with six-game winning drives in 2021, helping the Raiders to their first playoff appearance since 2016. It was second-highest total in the NFL.

Ahead of the 2016 season, Carr checked in at No. 100. In 2017, Carr was No. 11 after leading the Raiders to a 12-4 record.

In 2018, he was No. 60.

Carr wasn’t the only Raiders to be named to the Top 100.

Jones came in at No. 62. He played last season with the Arizona Cardinals and finished with 10.5 sacks.

Three slots later, Crosby was listed at No. 59. He finished last season with eight sacks and led the NFL with 82 pressures.

Waller was behind Crosby at No. 58. He finished the 2021 season with 55 receptions for 665 yards and two touchdowns.

That was Waller’s third straight appearance in the Top 100.