COSTA MESA, Calif. — Kristian Wilkerson made a contested catch on the sideline on Monday, and the Las Vegas Raiders players let out a roar. None of them were louder than receivers coach Edgar Bennett.
It’s been an interesting training camp for the Raiders receivers. Michael Gallup, a veteran free-agent signing who spent six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, surprisingly retired the day before camp, while Davante Adams has missed four straight practices to be with his wife for the birth of their third child. There are some jobs open and plenty more reps were had on Tuesday.
“Kristian is making the most of his opportunities,” Bennett said. “He’s been physical, strong, fast, trying to master the playbook and master his techniques.”
With Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker atop the Raiders depth chart, there are two or three spots open on the roster. DJ Turner may have one locked up due to his special teams skills, and he’s also had a very good camp on offense.
“DJ Turner has really stood out,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “He’s made some plays down the field, and on some sweeps and some handoffs and obviously on the special teams. … Kristian’s had some moments.”
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Meanwhile, Jalen Guyton — another veteran free agent formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers — returned from an undisclosed injury on Monday and showed off the hands with a tough catch in traffic on Tuesday. Guyton, 27, caught 10 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown in eight games with the Chargers last season. He spent five seasons there and had 71 catches for 1,112 yards and seven touchdowns. The Raiders added another veteran Tuesday when they signed former Washington Commanders receiver Dax Milne.
The 6-foot-1, 214-pound Wilkerson, also 27, played in two games (42 offensive snaps) for the Raiders last season after appearing in four games over two seasons with the New England Patriots in 2021 and ’22. He had four catches for them for 42 yards.
Wilkerson isn’t trying to hear that he is having a good camp.
“I don’t know,” Wilkerson said. “I just like to work.”
But Bennett said Wilkerson has definitely made strides this offseason and camp.
“He continues to improve as a route runner,” Bennett said. “He obviously has the size and strength, and he’s fast. He’s improved extremely well so far.”
Bennett is also high on Turner, who again Tuesday showed he can be a threat lined out wide or in the backfield. He took a swing pass for a touchdown in Saturday night’s scrimmage and has had a couple of deep catches this camp.
“He’s versatile, tough, smart, high-effort,” Bennett said. “DJ has just gotten better and better and better, and we like the camp that he’s had so far. The way he goes about his job, he is a special player.”
Turner, also 27, played 10 games last season, mostly on special teams (12 offensive snaps), after touching the ball 10 times — four rushes, four kickoff returns and two punt returns — in nine games in 2022.
“Right now I feel like I’m taking a step forward and establishing a role in this offense,” Turner said.
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He hasn’t heard that he is having a good camp, but Turner is getting more reps every day.
“The pieces are starting to come together. … You can feel it with the more opportunities I get each and every practice,” Turner said. “I feel like if I just keep making the most of them, I can develop into that role. Along with the special teams.”
Players always say the offense is perfect for them in training camp, but with all the misdirection, short passes and play action, this one fits the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Turner well.
“As long as I’m on the top of my game, I feel like the sky’s the limit with that role,” Turner said. “Not just always running downfield, just catching screens, but doing a bit of everything.”
Watching and learning from Adams and Meyers is a great tool, one that Wilkerson has been using with Meyers back to their time together on the Patriots.
“I have been with him five years, so he pushes me every day since I met him,” Wilkerson said. “He practices hard and leads by example, and I am just trying to follow and not be behind, or even try to pass him.”
It’s all about the mindset.
“Make every play that comes my way and pop out on film,” Wilkerson said. “Just trying to have an aggressive mindset every rep, whether it’s a blocking play or a pass play. Just attack the defense.”
There is also a longshot in the race in undrafted rookie Ramel Keyton out of Tennessee. Pierce asked Bennett to give him some second-team reps at practice this week.
“To get out of that younger-guy group and see how he competes against some of our veteran players,” Pierce said. “He’s done a good job and made some tough catches in traffic. He’s had some drops, too, as a rookie so … he’s just working on consistency and alignment and that strain that we’re looking for. These young guys’ legs are getting tired — we’ve had several live practices and periods now — and they just have to fight through it.”
Pierce wants all of them to keep pushing, starting with Saturday’s preseason opener in Minnesota.
“The younger guys are getting opportunities at training camp, and they have to make the most out of them,” he said. “They’re making some catches, and it would be really good to see them do that Saturday.”
Jack Jones had a couple of interceptions during the team drills on Tuesday. He baited Aidan O’Connell into a throw and then jumped the route for an interception, and later went high to haul in an overthrow by Gardner Minshew II.
“He definitely has a nose for the ball, man,” Minshew said after practice. “He’s kind of a wild card. Even though you know the coverage by the book, he can play a little different and read things and pick things up. He is a smart player who has good instincts.”
Both quarterbacks continued their erratic play, though Minshew had more positive plays. O’Connell had the day’s other interception, on an overthrow to Brock Bowers over the middle that Tre’von Moehrig hauled in. Maybe it’s learning Luke Getsy’s new offense, but O’Connell is a little hesitant and also seems to have developed a hitch this camp.
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Both players got a a little frustrated with pass rusher Maxx Crosby on Tuesday. On one play where both Crosby and Malcolm Koonce sacked Minshew, Crosby stripped the ball after the play and Minshew gave him an exasperated “really?” look. After O’Connell’s second interception, Crosby was chirping in his face and the quarterback gave him a shove.
“He’s always trying to touch you,” Minshew said. “It’s kind of his thing … but he is awesome. He makes an impact and, as long as he is doing that on Sundays, we’re going to be in great shape.”
Starting offensive linemen Kolton Miller (shoulder) and Jackson Powers-Johnson (concussion), meanwhile, missed another day as they inch forward to getting on the field. Wednesday is the last day of training camp in Southern California.
(Photo of Kristian Wilkerson: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)
