Should Cody White be on the Raiders' Active Roster After Two Touchdown Performance?

Sports admin September 22, 2026 0 Comments

Should Cody White be on the Raiders’ Active Roster After Two Touchdown Performance?

The Raiders have two players tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns. Running back Ashton Jeanty hauled in two in Week 1 and wide receiver Cody White snagged two in Week 2.

It isn’t weird for a wide receiver to be leading a team in touchdowns. It is odd if that wide receiver is on the practice squad. White has been elevated from the practice squad before each of the first two games of the season.

After beating the Chargers, partially because of White’s two catches in the end zone, the wide receiver was sent right back to the practice squad. It raises a question for the Raiders: Should White be relegated to practice squad duty?

White only played seven offensive snaps on Sunday. He is not a key part of the offense even after his two-touchdown performance. Maybe Klint Kubiak could try to get White more involved, but White only has three targets on the season.

Where White does provide continuous value is on special teams. White has played 30 snaps on special teams; he is 1 of 7 Raiders to play more than 50 percent of special teams plays this season.

Decision Coming Soon

NFL teams are allowed to elevate a player from the practice squad to the active roster three times in one season. White has already been elevated twice.

The Raiders will be able to elevate White for Week 3 with no problem, but beyond that will create issues. After a player has been elevated three times from the practice squad to the game day roster, the only way he can play in a fourth game is to be signed to the active roster.

In order to do so, the Raiders will have to get rid of another player. An injury could occur to help the Raiders’ decision-making process as well. But without one, the wide receiver position could look different quickly.

Las Vegas is carrying five wide receivers on the active roster. Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor are the top two options on the team. Second-year pass catcher Jack Bech will certainly be safe. But Dareke Young and Malik Benson could be in trouble.

Young was likely the most surprising receiver to make the initial 53-man roster. But he has played seven more offensive snaps and 28 more special teams snaps than Benson through two games.

Benson was drafted in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He popped during training camp and created a little bit of hype for his rookie season. But he has been buried on the bench during the regular season.

Dont’e Thornton’s Return

The Raiders placed another wide receiver on injured reserve prior to the start of the season. Dont’e Thornton suffered an undisclosed injury in training camp and has not made it back yet.

Thornton is not eligible to return until Week 5, so the Raiders have a little bit of time to figure out what to do. But his return could create even more problems for the bottom of the Raiders’ wide receiver group.

Thornton – if healthy – could easily slot in front of Young and Benson for snaps. But he doesn’t play special teams. Keeping Young around would help the special teams, even if it hurts the offensive depth chart.

This story was originally published September 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM.