Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans preseason Week 2 preview: Kickoff time, news, and how to watch live and free on DAZN

Klint Kubiak revealed that rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza will "get lots of reps this preseason," meaning the Raiders' No. 1 pick should get the chance to build on his early promise.

After initially saying he plans to play "everyone who's healthy," DeMeco Ryans reportedly plans to rest his starters, leaving Houston's backups with an opportunity to prove their worth.

Here's everything you need to know about the Raiders at Texans.

Raiders at Texans: Players to watch

Raiders' key storylines

Fernando Mendoza will be looking to demonstrate that his strong performance in the Raiders' opening preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals was a sign of things to come.

The rookie overcame a slow start to finish 10 of 16 for 97 yards and one touchdown, and has turned heads in Las Vegas' joint practice with the Texans this week.

Fellow rookie Mike Washington Jr. also had a great game against the Cardinals and will be eager to do the same here as he continues his bid to become Ashton Jeanty's primary backup.

Whether we see much of Jeanty and Bowers is unclear, but with both players locked into featured roles, the wide receiver battle is arguably more interesting.

The Raiders are thin at wideout, but Jalen Nailor stands to enter the year atop the depth chart, and Malik Benson has pleasantly surprised.

With Tre Tucker and Jack Bech also in the mix, and in a competition this tight, one big game or poor performance could help shape the pecking order going into next week.

Texans' key storylines

Assuming C.J. Stroud doesn't see any action, Davis Mills will be out to solidify his role as the primary backup.

With the rest of the starters held out, and more expected from Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson following Jayden Higgins' injury blow, attention turns to how the depth players perform.

There's a chance we see another glimpse of rookie tight end Marlin Klein, who drew praise from Ryans after hauling in a 31-yard pass last week.

Raiders at Texans: Keys to the game

• Raiders offense vs. Houston's second-string pass rush: With Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter absent, there's no excuse for the Raiders' starting offense.
• Raiders wideouts: It's a thin group, and Las Vegas needs someone to step up. Can rookie Malik Benson continue to ascend? Will Jalen Nailor begin to prove his worth?

Raiders at Texans: Kickoff date, time, and location

• Kickoff time (UK): 1am BST, Friday, August 21, 2026
• Kickoff time (US): 8pm ET, Thursday, August 20, 2026
• Kickoff time (US): 5pm PT, Thursday, August 20, 2026
• Venue: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

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