HENDERSON, Nev. — Jermod McCoy said his emotions are already welling up before the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason opener on Thursday night. The matchup with the Arizona Cardinals will be the rookie cornerback’s first game since Dec. 21, 2024; soon, a nearly 20-month hiatus from competitive football will be over.McCoy missed the entirety of his final collegiate season at the University of Tennessee after tearing his ACL during an offseason workout in January 2025. While he fully recovered from the injury, a cartilage issue in his knee had teams concerned about his short- and long-term health. Those worries forced a fall to the fourth round for a perceived first-round talent in April’s NFL Draft.McCoy, speaking for the first time since the Raiders selected him 101st overall, said he never had any doubts that he’d be able to play this year. But he said taking the field at Allegiant Stadium for the first time will mean something extra because of his journey.“I’m gonna just look around, take it all in,” McCoy said. “Just remember at any point, this game can be taken from you. So just always cherishing these moments.”Maxx Crosby is back in Las Vegas with a vengeanceSam WarrenThe Raiders have been managing McCoy’s knee since he arrived in Las Vegas, holding him out for the majority of their offseason program and one training camp practice so far. He said he’s feeling good, however, and has been able to surpass the initial restrictions the team placed on his workload.“I was on a little limit, but I’ve been able to exceed that,” McCoy said. “It’s been going real good for me.”Aside from sitting out the team’s Aug. 6 session, McCoy has been a participant in every competitive drill the Raiders have run during training camp. The corner has worked predominantly with the second and third teams in team periods and has gotten sporadic reps against the first-team offense. McCoy had some early rookie mistakes, which he acknowledged likely occurred due to rust. But he found his footing after a few practices and has looked solid in coverage since.“I made a few plays, and I felt real good,” McCoy said. “I was like ‘OK, it’s ball again.’”McCoy has shown a few flashes of why his talent is so highly regarded. Some tight coverage during one-on-ones and forced incompletions in team periods were reminiscent of his All-American campaign in 2024, when he had four interceptions and 13 passes defended for the Volunteers. McCoy said he has not quite returned to that level just yet, but he feels like he’s “almost there.” He credits Raiders wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero and the team’s training staff for helping him get to this point.“From the day I came in until now, just the way I feel is just so much better,” McCoy said. “(Guerrero), all the guys in there, I just feel like they’ve been pouring into me. They done got me right.”