Connor

Cook

The Roughnecks are coached by June Jones. Headlining the squad are QB Connor Cook, RB De’Angelo Henderson, former Giants RB Andre Williams, WR Sammie Coates, CB Charles James, and 28-year-old former Panthers second-round DE Kony Ealy. Cook was a fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2016 after playing his college ball at Michigan State.

The No. 100 overall pick of the 2016 draft, Cook proved to be a disastrously bad backup quarterback. The Raiders are attempting to upgrade with A.J. McCarron, though there’s not much difference between the two. Cook is still only 25, but he never had the best reputation and now has bad NFL film. Someone’s practice squad is the best-case scenario right now.

Waived by the Lions last month, Cook hasn’t garnered much attention on the open market. Washington remains in need of a backup to Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins following Josh Woodrum’s torn pec suffered in the Redskins’ first preseason contest. Even if he signs, Cook likely won’t make it onto the team’s final 53.

Manuel had a decent summer while Cook was disastrous. Neither player is a viable option behind Derek Carr. The Raiders would be finished were injury to befall Carr for the second straight year.

Cook got a brief look with the second-team offense at June minicamp, but McGloin is clearly ahead of him on the depth chart in training camp. In past preseason and real-game appearances, McGloin has looked shockingly competent and was rewarded with a $2.553 million tender this spring. The Raiders will open the season with three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.

Rookie Connor Cook appeared to be ahead of Matt McGloin at minicamp, but that may not be permanent. “There are a lot of different combinations this time of year, making sure we give guys exposure,” Del Rio said. “So, no, I wouldn’t read too much into any particular position.” The Raiders would probably like Cook to win the backup job after their fourth-round investment, but they also handed out a $2.553 million tender to McGloin. Oakland could end up keeping both behind entrenched starter Derek Carr.

Cook was expected to push incumbent backup Matt McGloin after the Raiders moved up in the fourth round to grab him, but that has not happened to this point. Cook will open his career learning behind both Derek Carr and McGloin. With McGloin set to hit free agency next spring, the Raiders are likely hoping Cook can develop into the backup of the future.

Cook is the Raiders’ No. 3 QB behind Derek Carr and Matt McGloin.

Third-string quarterbacks do not get reps during the week, so this isn’t a surprise. It is also a likely indication that the Raiders will start Matt McGloin against the Texans if McGloin’s shoulder checks out. Cook did handle himself surprisingly well in Sunday’s loss to Denver, moving the offense better than McGloin did early on. The Raiders’ quarterback situation remains a huge liability.

The loss knocks the Raiders all the way to the No. 5 seed and out of a first-round bye, but the game was already going the wrong way before Cook took over for an injured Matt McGloin in the second quarter. Cook did lead the only touchdown drive of the game for the Raiders, capping it with a nice throw to Amari Cooper who did the rest for a 32-yard score. He was stripped on a sack just after halftime, however, and threw a bad interception to essentially end the game. Neither quarterback was very good on Sunday, and the loss means the Raiders will have to make a quick decision on who to start in Houston. Based on how each played Sunday, it would not be surprising if Cook gets the nod.