Heading into his third NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett finds himself in a familiar position: working from behind on the depth chart, with something to prove.
Despite flashing legitimate starter potential in 2024, Bennett is currently running with the second team as he works his way back from a long-overdue shoulder surgery. It’s a battle he’s used to — and one he’s ready to win.
Bennett’s 2024 campaign was quietly one of the Raiders’ few bright spots during a 4-13 season. He played in 10 games, posting 26 tackles, eight pass deflections, and a stingy 52.3% completion rate allowed.
According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked in the top 10% of all corners in pass breakups — despite missing seven games. What fans didn’t know at the time was that Bennett was doing it all with a torn labrum.
Jakorian Bennett Is Back — And Ready to Lead the Las Vegas Raiders’ Secondary
“I haven’t had both my shoulders since college,” Bennett admitted this week. “My shoulder probably popped out five times last season. I was just thuggin’ it out — they’d put it back in and I’d go back in.”
According to reporting by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, eventually, the injury became too much. Doctors advised him to shut it down and undergo season-ending surgery — a tough but necessary call. Looking back, Bennett says he probably should’ve had the procedure sooner, but didn’t want to miss any offseasons.
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Now healthy, Bennett is behind Eric Stokes and rookie Darien Porter on the depth chart. But he welcomes the competition.
“You don’t want nobody just giving you anything,” he said. “I’ve got to show the coaches who I am and who I know I can be.”
With the departures of Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs, Bennett — despite being only 24 — is suddenly the most experienced cornerback on the roster. He’s embracing the leadership role, and learning from new head coach Pete Carroll, whose emphasis on takeaways is reshaping the secondary’s mindset.
“I had a lot of breakups,” Bennett said, “but if I can turn those into picks, I can really change the game.”
If he does, Bennett could go from quiet success story to cornerstone defender. With Carroll overseeing Patrick Graham’s defense, and a revamped roster around him, 2025 might be the year Bennett takes that leap — healthy, battle-tested, and finally ready to lead.