Back from a week of "mandatory" vacation, just in time for the Raiders to return from their bye week...
The 2-6 Raiders returned to practice at their Alameda facility Monday, "the healthiest this football team has been (all season)...no question, particularly on offense," coach Tom Cable told reporters.
Cable expects left guard Robert Gallery (broken fibula), right tackle Cornell Green (calf strain), running back Darren McFadden (knee) and receiver Chaz Schilens (broken foot) to all suit up and play against Kansas City on Sunday at the Coliseum.
"It was very good today, very good," Cable said of Monday's welcome-back practice. "In terms of having them all back, and into sync, and the energy in the huddle and all those things, it was good to have them back."
********************************************************
The Raiders also welcomed back another familiar face in defensive tackle William Joseph, who was re-signed to give the defensive line some much-needed depth. Offensive lineman Paul McQuistan was cut in the corresponding roster move.
"We've gotten through this whole time with just three inside (defensive) players," Cable said, "and felt like the second half we needed a fourth."
********************************************************
Schilens, meanwhile, has been down this road before...a couple of weeks ago. That's when the Raiders put out a press release trumpeting the second-year receiver's return from the broken left foot he suffered in a non-contact training camp drill on Aug. 18. But there was too much pain in the foot and the "four-to-six week" injury is one day shy of 12 weeks old.
Still, he's pretty sure he'll be on the field against the Chiefs on Sunday, even if there's some residual pain.
"Yeah, it's not 100 percent like I'd like it to be," Schilens said, "but I've just got to work through it."
Schilens knows there are certain expectations placed on him by Cable.
"I guess he expects me to do well," Schilens said. "I have to go out there and do my job, just like everyone else has to go out there and do their job. I think if we have a good week of practice and prepare - we know what Kansas City does, we play them twice a year - we'll go out there and play well."
********************************************************
Cable said he was "surprised" the Chiefs cut running back Larry Johnson. But that doesn't mean the Raiders are interested in his services.
"We're fine with who we have," Cable said.
********************************************************
And despite reports swirling that the NFL is going to make Cable submit to some sort of "evaluation" in light of the Randy Hanson assault allegations, but not, specifically, due to last week's ESPN report that Cable hit a former wife as well as an ex-girlfriend, Cable said Monday he has not been contacted by the league since last speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
********************************************************
The injury report: WR Chaz Schilens (foot), LG Robert Gallery (fibula) and DT Gerard Warren (ribs) practiced full; RB Darren McFadden (knee), RT Cornell Green (calf), TE Tony Stewart (chest) and CB Chris Johnson (groin) practiced limited; KR Nick Miller (shin), LB Ricky Brown (ankle), DE Greg Ellis (knee) and DT Tommy Kelly (personal issue) did not practice; and LB Slade Norris tweaked a hamstring in practice.
Kelly is expected back Tuesday, Cable said.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.