Raiders cornerback Chigozie Anusiem appeared to be seriously injured in the third quarter of Thursday night’s preseason game against the Texans.
Anusiem was on the punt team when he was dragged down from behind.
He had a vacuum splint on his leg and required a cart to get off the field. Anusiem wore a towel over his head as his teammates wished him well before he departed for the training room.
The Raiders quickly ruled him out.
He played 54 special teams snaps in three games last season for the Raiders.
The Raiders trail 20-3 midway through the third quarter.
Fernando Mendoza took a sack, was hit four other times, threw a pick-six and led the Raiders to only three points. It was a rough night for the No. 1 overall pick against the backup defensive players for the Texans.
The Raiders quarterback played the entire first half and went 8-of-15 for 86 yards, with a drop by Malik Benson for what could have been a big gain.
The Raiders gained 55 yards on their opening drive, including a 22-yard pass from Mendoza to Jalen Nailor, before Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz stepped in front of Mike Washington Jr.
Woodaz went 80 yards for a touchdown with the interception.
Veteran edge rusher Maxx Crosby greeted Mendoza on the sideline with words of encouragement.
“He’s been great,” Crosby said of Mendoza in a sideline interview with ESPN. “You come in as a rookie, and you’ve got to start all the way back at the bottom. He’d had the right attitude. He’s working his ass off. He’s in here every single day encouraging dudes and just working. That’s all you can ask for.”
Matt Gay hit a 52-yard field goal to give the Raiders their only points of the first half. They trail 20-3 at halftime.
Mendoza handed over the reins to Aidan O’Connell to start the second half.
In his preseason debut last week, Mendoza was 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud did play. He didn’t play long.
In his first game action since his meltdown in the postseason in New England, Stroud played 10 plays in the first possession and led the Texans to a touchdown. He took a seat after Woody Marks’ 20-yard touchdown run.
Stroud went 4-for-6 for 27 yards, and Marks had four carries for 37 yards and one catch for 6 yards.
The Texans took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz returned an interception of Fernando Mendoza 80 yards for a touchdown, and Ka’imi Fairbairn added a 51-yard field goal on an eight-play, 33-yard drive directed by backup quarterback Davis Mills.
Stroud had seven turnovers in two playoff games, including four interceptions against the Patriots in the divisional round.
DeMeco Ryans has changed his mind yet again. The Texans head coach said earlier this week his starters would play in Thursday’s preseason game against the Raiders.
Then, on Wednesday, he decided the starters had gotten enough work during the joint practice Tuesday and wouldn’t play in the game.
Now comes word from ESPN that quarterback C.J. Stroud will play.
The team’s defensive starters still won’t play. They don’t need the work. Stroud does.
It will be the first time Stroud has played since his meltdown against the Patriots in the divisional round when he threw four interceptions. He had seven turnovers in two playoff games.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Texans have talked to Stroud’s representation about a contract extension, but the sides are not close. The Texans have exercised the fifth-year option on Stroud’s contract for 2027.
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans has changed his mind when it comes to playing time for Thursday’s preseason matchup with Las Vegas.
According to multiple reporters, the Texans will now rest their starters against the Raiders this week.
Ryans had previously said that he was planning to play the first unit. But Ryans now feels the starters got enough work in Tuesday’s joint practice.
It’s also notable that second-year receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL during Tuesday’s session that will keep him sidelined for the season. Higgins tied for the team lead with six touchdown receptions as a rookie in 2025.
Kickoff between the Texans and Raiders is set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
