Benson (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's battle against San Francisco.
It's the second straight week the rookie wideout is a healthy scratch. Benson hasn't been able to gain much traction in the offense this season, as he's notched just two catches for 12 yards on nine targets through seven games. He's also contributed as a punt returner, and Dylan Laube could assume that role in Benson's absence Sunday.
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Raiders' Malik Benson: Healthy scratch for Week 8
Rotowire
Benson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets.
The rookie sixth-rounder has suited up for each of the first seven games of the regular season, but with Jack Bech (forearm) cleared to play, Benson will be an observer from the sidelines for Sunday's contest. His next opportunity to suit up is Week 9 against the 49ers on Nov. 8.
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Raiders' Malik Benson: Poor showing in second preseason game
Rotowire
Benson caught one of five targets for 18 yards in Thursday's 22-20 preseason win over the Texans.
Benson's stock had been on the rise thanks to a strong training camp in which he earned opportunities with the first-team offense, but the 2026 sixth-round pick produced a dud in Vegas' second preseason game. He struggled to get on the same page with fellow rookie Fernando Mendoza, and one of their incompletions was an ugly Benson drop on third down in the second quarter, which resulted in the Raiders punting rather than moving the chains. Benson still has an opportunity to carve out a substantial role in Vegas' wide receiver room, and he'll look to bounce back in next Thursday's preseason finale against the 49ers.
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Raiders' Malik Benson: Earning first-team reps
Rotowire
Benson has been getting more reps with the first-team offense, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.
"[Benson's] earned those reps but he's got to stay humble and stay hungry," head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters after Sunday's training camp practice. Benson, a sixth-round selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, played 20 snaps on offense during the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Thursday and caught two passes (on four targets) for 26 yards while returning one kickoff for 21 yards. There are still a few weeks to go before the regular season gets underway, but for now, it appears as though Benson is pushing Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton (undisclosed) for the WR3 role behind Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor.
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Raiders' Malik Benson: Impressing early
Rotowire
Benson turned heads during the Raiders' mandatory minicamp, Levi Edwards of the team's official site reports.
Edwards identified Benson as one of the biggest standouts of the Raiders' offseason program, noting that the rookie connected with multiple quarterbacks on deep passes during practices open to the media. The sixth-round pick enters training camp in what Ryan McFadden of ESPN reports to be an open competition at wide receiver, and his speed and ability to stretch the field could help him carve out a role if he builds on that momentum. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton represent Benson's main competition for snaps.
