Anyone who watched Las Vegas Raiders 2024 second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson last season knows he's a starting-caliber player.
The Oregon product played snaps at both guard and center during his rookie season and produced Pro Football Focus grades of 68.3 in pass-blocking and 70.4 in run-blocking while giving up just two sacks and 23 pressures. Not bad at all for a rookie.
Entering 2025, the expectation was that Powers-Johnson would be the starter at center, but the Raiders decided to go with Jordan Meredith instead, which was considered a major curveball.
Then, the Raiders put JPJ into a starting competition at right guard against veteran Alex Cappa, which Powers-Johnson won, earning him the start in Week 1.
However, after missing Week 2 due to a concussion, Powers-Johnson did not get the starting nod in Week 3, with Las Vegas rolling with Cappa instead despite Powers-Johnson being active.
That quickly looked like a mistake after Cappa was bad, as evidenced by his giving up seven pressures and posting a putrid 24.5 pass-blocking grade. We also saw Ashton Jeanty struggle whenever he ran behind the veteran offensive lineman.
Despite all that, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed on Wednesday that Powers-Johnson will compete against Cappa for the right guard job in practice yet again.
"Absolutely not. We invested a lot of time with these guys playing in their spots," he said when asked if he might go back to the offensive line the Raiders used in 2024, when Meredith played guard and Powers-Johnson played center.
"I know you're interested in JPJ. This is official week to practice and to get ready. Last week was not that, so he's ready to compete for playing time and he and Alex will be going at it (for right guard). It's a good situation in that regard."
"Jackson hasn't hit anybody in two weeks, so we have to see what he can do," Carroll added.
Frustrating and baffling doesn't begin to describe this situation.
Cappa is very clearly the inferior offensive lineman out of the two and has been bad since last season. There is no future with him and we'd be surprised if he makes it to a second season in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, JPJ is a promising 22-year-old offensive lineman who could be an elite starting solution for the next decade-plus. This constant back and forth is not going to help his development.
It's time to stop playing this game and give Powers-Johnson the green light the rest of the way. It's not only what's best for the Raiders right now, but for the long haul, also.
MORE NFL NEWS
- Tom Brady breaks silence over conflict of interest concerns
- Xavier Worthy injury update: Chiefs WR on track to play in Week 4
- Lions, Bengals named possible trade suitors for Raiders OL stuck in weird situation
- Aaron Rodgers looking forward to Dublin trip for one reason
- Brian Daboll makes compelling statement on benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart