Raiders’ biggest mistake on 53-man roster cutdown day ahead of 2026 NFL season

The Las Vegas Raiders trimmed their roster to 53 players this weekend, and the most questionable call in Las Vegas wasn’t a surprising cut, it was what the front office chose not to keep. By releasing veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale and rolling into the season with rookie Ashton Jeanty backed up only by Dylan Laube and undrafted Mike Washington Jr., the Raiders left their most important offensive weapon without a proven safety net.

Betting Everything on an Unproven Backfield

Jeanty enters his rookie season as the clear workhorse of the Las Vegas offense, and there’s no denying his talent after a dominant college career, but asking a first-year back to shoulder a full workload with zero experienced insurance behind him is a real gamble. Laube, also a rookie, and Washington Jr., while impressive this offseason, are unproven depth pieces and round out the room, meaning the Raiders have no running back on the roster with more than a handful of career NFL touches. Ogunbowale, by contrast, brought seven years of NFL experience and reliable special-teams value, the exact kind of insurance a team wants in place when its lead back is a rookie adjusting to the speed of professional defenses.

The Raiders are releasing veteran RB Dare Ogunbowale

Dang I thought he was a good veteran piece to keep, oh well pic.twitter.com/icGAyPPZnP

— Raiders Lead (@RaidersLead) August 30, 2026

Jeanty has dealt with injuries leading up to the regular-season opener, showing that running back is one of the most injury-prone positions in football, and rookies in particular tend to hit a physical wall as the pounding of an NFL season accumulates in ways college football never demanded. If Jeanty misses even two or three games, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly would be forced to lean on two players who have combined for almost no meaningful regular-season snaps, a scenario that could derail the Raiders’ offensive identity before it ever gets going. Compare that to a team like the Chargers, who kept a mix of youth and experience in the backfield, and the Raiders’ approach looks like an unnecessary risk for a roster that otherwise made sensible, defense-first decisions.

Compounding the Risk at Wide Receiver

The running back gamble becomes even riskier when paired with the Raiders’ decision to also release veteran wide receiver Noah Brown, further stripping away established playmaking experience on offense. Brown had shown chemistry in camp and offered a steady, physical target, but he was squeezed out in favor of a younger receiver room built around Jack Bech, Malik Benson and Dareke Young. Losing both a dependable backup running back and a proven possession receiver in the same cutdown weekend means the Raiders’ offensive floor now depends heavily on unproven talent staying healthy and developing on the fly.

That combination puts significant pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is already working to build rapport with a retooled skill-position group in his first full season with the franchise. Cousins thrives with rhythm and trusted outlets, and an offense stripped of veteran depth behind its lead runner and at receiver gives him fewer proven answers when plays break down or injuries strike.

A Defense-First Roster With an Offensive Blind Spot

To be fair, the Raiders’ defensive decisions were largely strong, retaining a deep defensive line featuring Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler and Malcolm Koonce, along with a linebacker corps anchored by Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. General manager John Spytek and the coaching staff clearly prioritized building a stout front seven, and that group should hold up well against AFC West competition featuring the run-heavy Broncos and physical Chiefs offensive line. The secondary also stayed largely intact, with Jeremy Chinn, Eric Stokes and Taron Johnson providing a solid, experienced back end.

That defensive stability only sharpens the contrast with the offensive gamble at running back. A team that clearly values experience and depth on one side of the ball chose to strip it away on the other, right at the position carrying the most weight for the 2026 season. If Jeanty stays healthy, the decision may look shrewd in hindsight, freeing up a roster spot for defensive depth. But if the rookie back goes down or needs a breather during a crucial divisional stretch, expect the Ogunbowale release to be remembered as the moment the Raiders’ cutdown day quietly cost them their season.

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