Raiders Cornerback Eric Stokes Reflects on Performance and Nickname Challenges

HENDERSON, Nev. — Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes, number 22, has caught the attention of his defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, who has tried to give him the nickname ‘EPMD’ after the classic hip-hop duo. Graham, a longtime fan of old school rap, praises Stokes for his speed and tackling skills during practices.

‘He’s long, he’s fast, he’s physical and does a solid job tackling,’ Graham said. ‘He’s done a good job of stepping up to the plate in one-on-one matchups and brings veteran leadership.’ Despite the compliments, Stokes appears less than enthusiastic about the nickname. ‘That’s just ‘PG,’ Stokes said with a laugh. ‘He just tried to make this funny little nickname for me. It’s OK.’

Stokes, now 26, feels he is performing at his peak level, noting he has made three pass breakups this season. ‘People don’t realize it, but I feel like I’m playing my best ball,’ he said. He explained that while he was heavily targeted earlier in his career, offenses now seem to shy away from throwing in his direction.

Looking ahead, Stokes acknowledges the challenge of facing the Dallas Cowboys, whose strong receiving duo includes CeeDee Lamb and former Georgia teammate George Pickens. ‘That man catches everything,’ Stokes said about Pickens. ‘His catch radius is unbelievable.’

The Raiders also face challenges off the field, as the NFL has filed a grievance to end an annual survey by the NFL Players Association that critiques team facilities and treatment of players. Raiders player representative AJ Cole expressed the value of the survey, noting it has sparked positive changes within the league.

Injury news shows wide receiver Tyler Lockett returned to full practice on Friday, signaling he is ready to take the field. Young linebacker Cody Lindenberg participated in a limited capacity due to an Achilles injury, while running back Dylan Laube was added to the injury report but also practiced fully this week.