Change at starting guard? Raiders rookie could get his chance

Rookie Trey Zuhn III may have finally landed on a position after getting work at every spot on the offensive line since the day he joined the Las Vegas Raiders as a third-round pick out of Texas A&M.

It could even come with a chance to crack the starting lineup.

Zuhn was seen participating in a drill with the rest of the first-team offensive line during Wednesday’s practice and could be the third player to start at right guard for the Raiders when they play the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Coach Klint Kubiak would not comment on whether Zuhn would be in the starting lineup, but has consistently said there is open competition for every spot in the lineup each week.

That has been particularly true at right guard, where both Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers have struggled at times when given chances to start.

“We’re going to give other guys opportunities,” Kubiak said of the offensive line in general. “We’re going to keep shaking it up until we find the right mix.”

Zuhn has played in six games this season, missing one due to a knee injury, and seen offensive reps in five, mostly as an extra offensive lineman in heavy formations.

The 24-year-old first-team All-SEC performer from last year believes he will be ready for whatever role is asked of him.

“I feel confident,” he said of his ability to step in at guard after also practicing at tackle and center this year. “If that’s what the team needs, it’s what I’m ready to do.

“I’ve just been taking every rep I can at practice doing whatever the team needs me. I’m happy to take them because I’m just trying to get on the field and help the team.”

That willingness to move around has impressed his teammates.

Tyler Linderbaum joked that he’s one-dimensional as a center.

“You put me somewhere else and I don’t know how it’s going to go,” he laughed.

He said the task is much harder than it appears because the sightlines, angles, footwork, assignments and hand placement are all different at the three spots, not to mention flipping over to the opposite side of the line to play either right or left.

“I wouldn’t know from experience, but I can tell you it’s not easy because there’s not many guys in this league that can do it effectively,” said Linderbaum, who added Zuhn reminded him of his former Baltimore Ravens teammate Patrick Mekari in his ability to learn every spot on the line.

“Trey’s been a guy that doesn’t say much, but just comes in and works every day. You appreciate guys like that, especially being young. He’s been asked to do a lot of things for us, which isn’t really common for a rookie to be asked to be an extra tight end, a guard, a tackle and a backup center and do all these different things. But he’s just a super smart player who comes in every day and works at it. A guy that when it comes time to play on Sunday, you know he’s going to be ready for anything.”

Now he may be lining up between Linderbaum and right tackle DJ Glaze on Sunday.

“He’s been balling,” said Glaze, who was limited in practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. “Puts his head down and goes to work every day. He’s been good. He got drafted here for a reason and whenever he has to go in there, I’m pretty sure he can step in there and do whatever is asked of him.

“He’s come in here and learned every position for us and the more you know, the easier it is to get opportunities. It’s been huge.”

Kubiak called Zuhn a “Swiss Army knife.”

“He can do it all. He can play tackle, guard, center. He might be able to play quarterback,” Kubiak said. “I don’t know, I haven’t let him try yet.”

For now, he’ll probably stick to trying to protect the quarterback.

“He’s a very intelligent, hardworking player who’s still ascending and still getting better,” Kubiak said. “He’ll have his chance.”

It could be this week.

Zuhn knows he will be ready.

“I’ve been learning so much, especially with all the vets in the room like Tyler and Kolton (Miller),” he said. “I’ve just been learning from them and all the coaches, trying to be a sponge and learn whatever I can, especially the little details like hand placement, foot speed, foot placement. Just steps. There’s so much you can learn from watching them.”

He will be playing with them sooner rather than later.

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.