Crash course in ‘complex’ offense

Receiver Zay Jones has been with the Raiders for a little more than two weeks.

In that time, Jones said, he has taken enough notes on the offense to fill two binders.

“Just going over and over and over it again,” Jones said Friday. “Even if I do think I know it, writing it again. It doesn’t guarantee anything. It doesn’t mean I’m going to play a perfect game. It just gives me a better chance to go out and compete at a high level.”

Jones was inactive last Sunday for his first game with the Raiders since being acquired on Oct. 8 from Buffalo for a 2021 fifthround draft pick. The Raiders have dressed just four receivers in each of their past three games, so the fourth active receiver has needed to be capable of playing every position, head coach Jon Gru

den said Friday. “In fairness to Zay, it’s hard to learn one position in a week, let alone three,” Gruden said. He added that Jones “has really done a great job” learning the offense.

Jones, who had 652 receiving yards last season, said that “sometimes my head is spinning” but that what intrigues him about Gruden’s system is “the same thing that makes it so complex — the detail.”

“Coach Gruden (is) constantly trying to find ways — how can I get my receivers open, how can I put my quarterback in the best position, how can my playmakers touch the football?” Jones said.

“It’s not just, ‘We’ll roll it out there and we’ll see what happens.’ I think what excites me the most is this offense’s intention.”

At Green Bay, the Raiders’ receiver group consisted of Trevor Davis (acquired Sept. 19), Marcell Ateman (recently promoted from the practice squad), and rookies Hunter Renfrow and Keelan Doss. That could change Sunday at Houston with top receiver Tyrell Williams expected to return after missing the past two games with plantar fasciitis.

Meanwhile, the Athletic reported Friday the Raiders have expressed interest in a possible trade for Jets receiver Robby Anderson, who has 17 catches for 266 yards in six games this season.

“We got a good look at Tyrell this week, he’s got a chance, and Zay Jones is getting better,” Gruden said. “We might make more changes at wide receiver. We’re good at that.”

Injury report: Running back Josh Jacobs was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury sustained at Green Bay.

“We expect him to play,” Gruden said. “But we’ll have to see how it goes.”

Right tackle Trent Brown is also questionable with a calf injury. Center Rodney Hudson (ankle) and right guard Gabe Jackson (knee), who did not practice Wednesday, do not have injury designations for the game. If Brown plays, the Raiders could have their starting offensive line intact for the first time this season.

“That would be nice,” Gruden said. “That’s the goal.”