"It's very shocking, and surprising to get voted by your peers, especially with me just [getting] here, and trying to keep my head down, and lead the young guys, just lead by example," said Nelson. "It's been a great start, and I'm just trying to lead by example and be myself."

Entering his first season as a Raider, Nelson has the fewest seasons in Silver and Black of any member of the quartet of captains – Carr and Mack are entering their third seasons, and Hudson his second – and because of that relative newness, Nelson was taken aback and humbled by the news.

"I'm very shocked," Nelson said. "It just shows that I've been doing the right thing, and now I just have to keep it going."

So what's the next step for Nelson and the rest of the captains as they prepare to lead the team into the 2016 season?

"You just continue to do what you've been doing," Nelson explained. "You've been doing the right thing all along, so just continue to be yourself and continue to lead by example, and bring the young guys along."

The team hits the practice field Wednesday before traveling to New Orleans Friday afternoon in advance of their Week 1 matchup with the Saints.