Injury-plagued offensive line keeps getting thinner
Alexander’s evening ends in concussion
PHILADELPHIA — The Raiders hoped to provide David Sharpe some help Monday evening.
They did with an extra lineman, until they lost him.
Guard/tackle Vadal Alexander was featured on three of the offense’s first four snaps as a sixth lineman. On the team’s second drive, he jogged onto the field to start another series. But a hard shot to the helmet sent him to the ground, lying face down on the turf as teammates waved in athletic trainers. He was diagnosed with a concussion.
Sharpe, a rookie fourth-round pick, entered Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles having played three offensive snaps in 2017.
The Raiders placed Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn on injured reserve following Wednesday foot surgery. Reserve center/guard Jon Feliciano was placed on injured reserve, too, with a concussion. With Alexander’s exit, center James Stone was left Monday as the team’s only remaining backup offensive lineman.
He was promoted from the practice squad Wednesday.
Turning yellow
The Eagles’ best offensive lineman faced the Raiders’ best defender.
It was obvious who was better Monday.
Defensive end Khalil Mack drew a false start and a hold from tackle Lane Johnson during a five-play span during the second quarter. Those penalties helped the Raiders survive a 12-play drive, which ended before halftime with a 33-yard missed field goal. On the Eagles’ next drive in the third quarter, Johnson was flagged again with another holding called while working against Mack.
Mack, a recent Pro Bowl selection and defending AP Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Raiders with 10½ sacks.
Notable
Cornerback Sean Smith shadowed Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery throughout the game. Jeffery entered the third quarter without a catch. In fact, he wasn’t even targeted. Smith had him draped on a Jihad Ward sack. It was the first career sack for the 2016 second-round pick.
Safety Reggie Nelson forced a third-quarter fumble by Jay Ajayi that cornerback TJ Carrie recovered. That was good. The bad: Quarterback Derek Carr threw an interception directly before the play, and running back Marshawn Lynch lost a fumble directly after it. It was Lynch’s first lost fumble since the 2014 regular-season finale.
The Eagles weren’t the first team to avoid kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson, but they were the latest. Running back Jalen Richard had two kickoff returns and running back Deandre Washington had one as Philadelphia elected to go with shorter kickoffs.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.