The Raiders had been planning to have Thayer Munford replace Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, but a hand injury early in camp created a competition. Third-round rookie DJ Glaze has earned more first-team reps upon Munford returning. While The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes Munford — a 2022 seventh-rounder who competed with Eluemunor for the RT job last summer and saw action at both tackle spots during the season — still has the edge, Glaze has created a position battle (subscription required). Glaze’s chances at earning this job may also have increased Tuesday, with Reed adding Munford sustained an injury to his other hand.
Elsewhere on the Raiders’ front, second-round rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson remains on the active/PUP list. The Oregon product has been out of Raiders practice since early in OTAs, with a concussion sidelining him. Considering the timeline here, it is concerning how long the rookie has been out. Antonio Pierce did say (via Reed) he expects Powers-Johnson and LT Kolton Miller to begin practicing next week, but the former’s chances of winning the LG job — which the Raiders appeared to have earmarked for the Day 2 draftee — have taken a hit. The team does have veteran options in Cody Whitehair and Andrus Peat; the latter has been working at tackle while Miller has rehabbed.
Here is the latest from the O-line ranks around the league.
- Eluemunor changed positions in camp for his new team, shifting back to right tackle — after spending the offseason at guard — while Evan Neal rehabbed a nagging ankle injury. While Neal is off the Giants‘ PUP list, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard notes Eluemunor is unlikely to give up the starting RT job. The three-year Raiders starter appears “entrenched” there, establishing a likelihood Neal starts the season as a backup. Late-summer FA addition Greg Van Roten, who started next to Eluemunor in Las Vegas last year, is expected to start at right guard in New York, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan.
- Signed to replace Connor Williams in free agency, Aaron Brewer sustained a hand injury that could shake up the Dolphins‘ regular-season O-line. Brewer could miss several weeks with this ailment, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes, adding that Liam Eichenberg — who has made a career shuffling around Miami’s front — is back at center for the time being. A former second-rounder now in a contract year, Eichenberg was close to winning Miami’s RG gig, Jackson adds. The Dolphins are now shorthanded at two spots up front, with LG Isaiah Wynn not yet off the PUP list.
- The Panthers signed Yosh Nijman (two years, $8MM) to be their swing tackle this offseason, but the ex-Packer will not factor into Carolina’s O-line equation for a while. Nijman is a “long ways” away from returning after undergoing surgery to repair a leg issue, Dave Canales said. Nijman appears a candidate to be stashed on Carolina’s reserve/PUP list, per The Athletic’s Joe Person, who notes a waiver wire add here should not surprise at this point.
- A 2023 fourth-round pick, Anthony Bradford is moving close to becoming the Seahawks‘ RG starter, according to The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar. The former Day 3 pick looks to have a clear lead here. Bradford, who started 10 games in relief of Phil Haynes last season, is poised to retain the job opposite free agency addition Laken Tomlinson.
- Saahdiq Charles‘ retirement caught the Titans by surprise. They had been pitting the offseason addition against Dillon Radunz in a right guard competition. New O-line coach Bill Callahan said (via TitanInsider.com’s Terry McCormick) he attempted to reach out to the 25-year-old blocker but did not hear back. The Titans gave Charles a one-year, $1.5MM deal to come over from Washington in free agency.