Last Sunday in Los Angeles, the Raiders came out with their first win in five games, but also came out considerably banged up. Thursday, five starters missed practice, including Josh Jacobs, Tyrell Williams, Richie Incognito, Gabe Jackson, Josh Jacobs, Lamarcus Joyner, and Trayvon Mullen.
Jacobs has the top story today as he had surgery on Wednesday and initially it was unknown what the surgery was for or how it would affect his status on Sunday. Gruden went about trying to clear that up.
“He has a skin infection and that will have nothing to do with his playing status,” Gruden said of Jacobs. “His shoulder is the issue and we’ll anxiously see how he is tomorrow.”
Williams stepped up against his former team on Sunday and Thursday he was stepping back, again with his nagging plantar fascia injury. Gruden said the injury was “uncomfortable” for Williams and if he can’t go, Marcell Ateman would replace him in the lineup.
Mullen was taken off the field on a stretcher and to the hospital last Sunday after a hard collision with teammate Curtis Riley. Since then, all news has been good news for Mullen, despite the fact that he was not at practice Thursday.
“He’s pretty good, he’s got an illness not related to what happened in LA,” Gruden said of Mullen, referencing the Chargers game.
“No concussion. You have to be evaluated anytime they ask or request that you be evaluated and when there’s an injury of that concern there is a standard protocol that you go through and I believe he’s passed it with flying colors and hopefully he’ll be ready to go.”
Incognito missed last week’s game with Denzelle Good filling in admirably at left guard. It doesn’t look great for Incognito’s chances for this week either, with Gruden saying Incognito is “questionable at very best” for this game.
No word on yet on Joyner’s or Jackson’s chances of playing.
