Oakland Raiders: Preseason Week 3 — Stock Up/Stock Down
By Nico Di Fede
Stock Down: Nick Nelson, CB
Nick Nelson was the complete opposite of Nixon in this one. He had a terrible game versus the Packers, following not so impressive performances against the Rams and Cardinals.
The first catch Nelson gave up was on the Packers second drive of the game. Nelson was playing off coverage and the receiver ran an outside post.
Nelson could not close in fast enough and gave up the 10 yards. Playing off about 10 yards was perfect for the route he was covering, yet he still gave up the catch.
The second catch given up by Nelson came on the Packers fourth drive towards the end of the first quarter. This time Nelson’s coverage was decent as he was right on his man, but the bigger receiver was able to still pull it in over him for a 20-yard gain.
More from Las Vegas Raiders News
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- Raiders: Bryan Edwards out, Henry Ruggs doubtful for Sunday
- Raiders: Damon Arnette re-injures thumb, could be headed to IR
- Raiders fall short in letdown Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots
- Raiders: Game breakdown and prediction for Week 3 at New England Patriots
Nelson did not play the ball well enough to force the incompletion despite the tight coverage. Later in the drive, Nelson gave up his first touchdown of the game on a fade route along the left sideline. Nelson not only gave up the touchdown catch but also got flagged for pass interference.
Nelson gave up another pass for over 10 yards, this time getting beat by Trevor Davis on a play-action rollout. The following play the Wisconsin product made a big hit and two plays after that yet another big hit.
Those were his two best plays of the game but they were followed by Nelson giving up his second touchdown catch of the day on a streak route where he was beaten by a few steps in a league where being beaten one step is too much.
In the first half alone, Nelson gave up five catches for over 60 yards & two touchdowns on top of committing a pass interference penalty. That is more than Keisean Nixon has given up throughout the whole preseason.
He wasn’t as bad the rest of the game only giving up one or two more receptions, but it would be almost impossible for that to not be the case.
The 22-year-old did get an interception on the last play of the game, but it was a prayer thrown up by quarterback DeShone Kizer where multiple guys were there waiting to the point that it looked like a game of three flags up.
With Nixon’s impressive preseason especially in this game, Nelson is likely not even on the bubble at this point and is already in the coaches plans to be cut after this one.