Raiders expect rookie CB Jermod McCoy ready for training camp

The Las Vegas Raiders expect rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy to be ready to practice when training camp opens, head coach Klint Kubiak said. McCoy was selected No. 101 overall in the NFL Draft and has had his workload managed during the offseason program. Kubiak said the team anticipates McCoy will compete and take significant reps once camp begins, while continuing to monitor his recovery day to day.

McCoy has been brought along cautiously during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as he works back from a knee injury. The Raiders have limited his reps in the spring with an eye on long-term availability rather than maximizing June practice time. The club’s expectation is that he can handle an expanded workload when camp starts, provided his knee responds well as intensity increases.

McCoy missed the entire 2025 college season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during an offseason workout in 2024. The injury influenced his draft stock, with his talent previously viewed at a higher level before he slid to the fourth round. The Raiders’ decision to take him at No. 101 reflects confidence in his upside if the recovery continues on schedule.

Kubiak described McCoy’s progression as a “moving target” and said the plan could be adjusted if needed. “I expect him to practice. I expect him to be on the field. It’s going to be a moving target with him, but we drafted him for a reason, drafted him to play, so I expect him to compete in camp and get plenty of reps,” Kubiak said.

How the Raiders are managing McCoy’s ramp-up

McCoy’s early participation once training camp opens will be a key checkpoint for the coaching staff. How quickly he can move from monitored work to full-speed competitive reps will help determine whether he can realistically push for snaps as a rookie. Even if he is cleared to practice at the start of camp, the team may choose to scale his workload based on how he responds to consecutive days of work.

The expected return would come more than a year after the ACL tear, a timeline that often allows players to ramp back toward full football activities. Still, the Raiders’ approach in the spring suggests they are prioritizing readiness for the longer training camp and preseason block rather than short-term volume in OTAs.

Why McCoy’s health shapes his rookie role

As a fourth-round pick with notable upside, McCoy could become a value addition if he stays healthy and translates his traits into early contributions. The team’s patience during the spring program also indicates it is planning beyond Week 1, with the goal of having him available and progressing as the season approaches.

Training camp practices will provide the first sustained look at whether McCoy can stack full weeks of work and how his knee holds up under repeated workloads. That evidence is likely to guide how the Raiders manage his preseason usage and where he fits in the cornerback rotation entering the regular season.

McCoy’s availability in the first weeks of camp will be closely watched, because it will influence how quickly he can compete for a role and earn trust in a position group that typically demands consistent, high-intensity reps.