The Raiders will be without Jacoby Ford and Darren McFadden again as Hue Jackson ruled them out for this week’s game against the Lions. The good news is the return of Denarius Moore. Just don’t expect the same Denarius we saw prior to his injury.
Denarius is being eased back into the Raiders’ offense. He practiced all week but his receiving duties have not covered the whole spectrum of what he is typically capable of doing.
“It’s just from little short straight routes, and just little short individual routes, and just working on getting more plays, and actually putting more plays in as the day goes on and each practice,” said Moore. “I think he’s going to test me, see where I am, see how far I can really just go out there and play. Just something to get a feel for first.”
He also won’t be returning punts as he had done prior to his injury.
“It’s something where we think punt return is more side-to-side, more jukes,” said Moore. “So they’re just going to leave that alone for a while, or for at least this week, and let it get by and let it heal up all the way back in, and then we’re going to see where we’re going to go from there.”
Bryan McCann will continue to return punts this week in his stead.
The Raiders have lost two straight games in Moore’s absence. Even a less than 100% Denarius Moore is better than not having him at all, especially with Jacoby Ford and Darren McFadden missing another game.
Ford has been out for a month with a sprained foot, and McFadden has been out for two months with a mid foot sprain. Each week either or both of them has been expected back but each week there continues to be no sign of them at practice.
Other notable injury updates include:
Michael Huff is questionable after not practicing all week. He is likely out. Taiwan Jones is officially questionable but he was not suited up and is doing only light work on the sideline, so he is likely out. Chris Johnson was ruled out for the second straight game after the death of his sister last week. John Henderson is questionable but is expected to play.
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