Report: Raiders searching the NFL for reinforcements at guard

After starting right guard Gabe Jackson suffered an MCL injury in his left knee at training camp, the Raiders are on the lookout for potential reinforcements at the position, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Michael Gehlken.

Raiders are scouring waiver wire and have begun contacting other clubs to gauge which guards will become available as Aug. 31 roster cutdown nears, source said. Team open to a trade before Aug. 31, which would allow it to circumvent the waiver system and address position of need.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 12, 2019

While Jackson’s injury is a devastating blow, it’s not the only issue the Raiders have at guard. The starter on the left side, Richie Incognito, will miss the first two weeks of the season due to suspension. His potential fill-in, guard Denzelle Good, is also injured.

Former first-round pick, Jonathan Cooper has already been added to the team and started in the Raiders’ first preseason game against the Rams. Guard Denver Kirkland started in place of Jackson on the right. He’s in his third year with the club and has appeared in eight games, starting four.

Guard Jordan Devy will likely also get a crack at Jackson’s starting spot. It would benefit the team if they could fill Jackson’s void with a waiver claim on an in-house solution because he’ll be back well before the mid-way point of the season. But it’s important the Raiders get off to a good start, so a trade is certainly not out of the question.