OAKLAND -- Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said fullback Oren O'Neal and receiver Drew Carter both likely out for the 2008 season with left knee injuries.
Carter hurt his ACL in the first quarter. There were no details on what O'Neal exact injury is, but Kiffin said he's likely done for the year.
So the depth Kiffin complained about will really be tested, especially at wide receiver.
The Raiders didn't have much there. Now they'll have to rely on Johnnie Lee Higgins, Todd Watkins or Chaz Schilens (the likely candidates right now) to step up.
If you're wondering about talented players that might be available, Koren Robinson is still without a team.
The only other fullback besides O'Neal is undrafted rookie Marcel Reece.
*Kiffin was pleased with the Raiders run defense in the first half. The team held Arizona to 50 yards in 14 carries. The long runs the Cardinals ran off in the third quarter Kififn dismissed because several starters were out of the game.
*Here's Kiffin on the passing game:
"Unfortunately I think I saw what I already knew. If we try to throw the ball around you're going to get penalties, you're going to get the quarterback hit and he's going to be running around a lot and you're going to be in trouble."
Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will get a lot of work this season, obviously.
*After watching Matt Leinart tonight, it looks like the Raiders weren't so wrong to go with Michael Huff in the 2006 NFL Draft.
*If I'm the Raiders, I'm not panicking too much. There's no way Kiffin ever calls a real game with so many passes just because.
As he said, we already knew what would happen if the Raiders had to pass.
Check back in about an hour for my stories and Paul Gutierrez's column on tonight's game.
--Jason Jones








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