Saturday the Raiders closed out their 2025 preseason against the Cardinals. The first entrenched first teamers on each side of the ball played just one series and dominated in both instances. After that, the Cardinals got big plays on both sides of the ball to go on to win the game. Let’s get to those individual standouts.

BallersQB Geno Smith, WR Dont’e Thornton

One drive for Geno Smith put the Raiders up 7-0. The first completion was a ten-yarder to Thornton on third and nine. A bit later, with the Raiders at the Arizona 35-yard-line, Smith found Michael Mayer for nine yards. Three plays later, he threw a perfect back-shoulder ball for Thornton and the rookie made a spectacular catch around the defender and just inside the pylon for the score.

Geno’s day was done after that, but Thornton came back out for a couple more drives. Just before the end of the first quarter, he made a nine-yard catch on third and three to put the Raiders in field goal range to go up 10-7. That also means Thornton caught the passes for all of the Raiders’ scores in the game.

DE Maxx Crosby

One series was all it took for Crosby to do what he does. The second play of the game, he shot past his supposed blocker and met the ball carrier as soon as he got the ball for a seven-yard loss. And the Cardinals went three-and-out. Crosby’s day was done. Three plays. Efficient.

RB Zamir White

Some of the best running we’ve seen from him since the end of the 2023 season. And he may have cemented himself as the number two back on this team in the process. He got the nod after Ashton Jeanty. His first carry went for five yards, his second was another five yards, this time on third and two. Two plays later, he had another first down in short yardage and the next play had a six-yard run. The Raiders scored the touchdown on the play after that.

Two drives later, he had another first down in short yardage, then picked up seven yards on the next run. Raheem Mostert came in after that. White led the Raiders with 42 yards on nine carries (4.7 yards per carry).

G Dylan Parham

Two of White’s runs on that first down were behind Parham blocks. One for a first down. Parham looks like he’s primed for a career year.

DT Tonka Hemingway

Another outstanding outing for the rookie fourth round pick. The Cardinals got the ball on the Vegas 19-yard line off of the fumble by Aidan O’Connell on the strip sack. Hemingway did his part to try and hold them to a field goal by making a run stuff short of the sticks on third and three. Unfortunately on fourth down, they went for it and were able to get the touchdown, but that wasn’t Tonka’s fault. He did, however, stop a drive in the second quarter with a QB hit that led to an incompletion on third down. He then got another QB hit to force an incompletion on the next possession to stop it for a three-and-out.

LB Jamal Adams

This former Pro Bowl safety was making light work out of the Cardinals reserves. On one drive in the second quarter, he made the stop on two QB scrambles, then in third and goal at the five, he got pressure to bat a pass down so they had to settle for a field goal. No need to keep him out there after that. Let someone else have a shot.

DE Andre Carter II

Carter was showing up in the Cardinals backfield a lot. The former Army All American got pressure on a drive late in the second quarter and got his hands up to bat the ball down for a three-and-out and a punt. Next drive, he made a run stuff at the line. The final drive of the third quarter, he got another pressure to force an incompletion. And he ended the first drive of the fourth quarter with a sack. Methinks he has earned himself a spot on the practice squad if nothing else.