Key facts
- Raiders lost to Cardinals 27-14 in Week 1 preseason; Texans lost to Chargers 27-7
- Las Vegas finished 3-14 last season (1-7 on road); Houston went 12-5 in 2025 (7-2 at home)
- Kickoff Thursday 8 p.m. ET at Reliant Stadium in Houston
- Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza completed 10 of 16 for 97 yards and a TD in Week 1; RB Mike Washington Jr. rushed six times for 63 yards
- Texans QB Davis Mills went 9 of 15 for 82 yards and a score Week 1; backup Graham Mertz sidelined by knee injury
The matchup and context
The Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans face off Thursday night in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason at Reliant Stadium, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET. Both teams are looking to bounce back after opening-week losses. The Raiders fell to the Arizona Cardinals 27-14 last Thursday, while the Texans lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 27-7 that same evening.
Teams’ recent form and record
The Raiders finished the 2025 regular season at 3-14, last in the AFC West, and struggled on the road with a 1-7 mark. The Texans placed second in the AFC South at 12-5 and were solid at home, posting a 7-2 record at their stadium during the regular season.
Preseason Week 1 quarterback and offensive performance
Las Vegas rotated quarterbacks in its loss to Arizona. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from Indiana completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown. Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. contributed on the ground, carrying six times for 63 yards with a long run of 53 yards.
Houston will look to Davis Mills again at quarterback after the team lost backup Graham Mertz to a knee injury in the first game. Mills completed 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. Running back Noah Whittington, the former Oregon back, rushed 13 times for 40 yards in his debut. The Texans’ running back depth has been tested by injury; Josh Pitsenberger was placed on injured reserve after leaving the Week 1 game with an ankle injury, though he had carried nine times for 33 yards in that contest.
Injuries and availability
According to CBS Sports, the Texans are thin at running back due to Pitsenberger’s injured reserve placement. Graham Mertz’s knee injury has removed him from the quarterback rotation, leaving Davis Mills as the primary backup to starter C.J. Stroud for preseason purposes.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — Raiders at Texans: Preseason Week 2 Discussion Thread · 49ers vs Chargers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NFL Preseason Game
- Sporting News — Polymarket Promo Code TSN: Claim $20 Bonus for Raiders-Texans, Chargers-49ers · Kalshi Promo Code TSNEWS: Get $25 Bonus for Raiders-Texans, Chargers-49ers
- CBS Sports
Featured photo: Frogis via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)