Jackson out with MCL strain
NAPA » The Raiders will be without starting right guard Gabe Jackson for approximately two months after he sustained a right knee injury Thursday during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams.
Coach Jon Gruden said f o l lowing practice the Raiders were “really concerned” and although their worst fears weren’t realized — Jackson is not out for the season and will not need surgery — the five-year veteran doesn’t figure to return until October.
A source said Jackson would be out eight weeks with an MCL strain “give or take a few” depending on how fast he heals.
If Jackson is out eight weeks, he would miss the first four games of the regular season — Denver, Kansas City and road games against Minnesota and Indianapolis. After that, the Raiders face the Chicago Bears in London on Oct. 6.
Jackson is one of the Raiders most consistent linemen, and the hope was teaming him with Trent Brown would be create of the NFL’s most effective tandems on the right side of the line.
Jackson’s mishap was the first major injury of camp. Wide receiver Antonio Brown missed practice again with what is believed
to be a condition similar to frostbite on both feet as a the result of a reported cryotherapy session.
Gruden continued to decline comment on anything to do with Brown.
“He’s still gathering (information),” Gruden said. “I don’t have any information other than that.”
Asked if the reports of frostbite were correct, Gruden said, “I’m not going to get into the exact nature of the feet. I’m just not.”
The Raiders believe Brown will be back soon, even if they don’t know have a timetable. As for Jackson, they’ll have to keep their fingers crossed.
Gruden said Jackson got “rolled up a little bit” during a team period. Moments earlier, Jackson had been involved in a minor skirmish with Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Jackson struggled to stand before he was placed on a cart and driven toward the field house and weight area where he was checked out by trainers. Owner Mark Davis made his way to the restricted area and spent between 10 and 15 minutes there before re- emerging to watch practice.
With Jackson out, Denver Kirkland took reps with the first team at right guard as did Jordan Devey, who is also the Raiders’ backup center to Rodney Hudson.
The Raiders are already thin at guard and won’t left side starter Richie Incognito on the left side for the first two games of the season as he serves a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Jonathan Cooper was signed as a free agent before camp opened and the plan is to work him in at left guard as the season approaches.
Denzelle Good, considered a potential starter on the left side, had off-season back surgery and is working off to the side with the training staff at an increasing rate of intensity.
Considering the amount of time Jackson is out, it’s the Raiders are immediately on the market for a veteran guard.
“We’re missing Denzelle Good, obviously,” Gruden said. “So it’ll be a great opportunity for a guy like Denver Kirkland, who’s been here for a few years. We brought in Cooper to help at left guard. We’ll have to put our heads together, see where we area.”
Kirkland, 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, played in six games with four starts in as an undrafted free agent rookie out of Arkansas in 2016, sat out the entire 2017 season on injured reserve and spent most of last season on the practice squad. He earned a late-season promotion to the 53-man roster and played in two games.
As a rookie, Kirkland did his best work as a blocking tight end in power running formations and played extensively in a 218-yard team rushing performance in a 30-20 win over the Denver Broncos.
Jackson is a third-round pick out of Mississippi State who is considered one of the better guards in the NFL. He started at left guard as a rookie in 2014 and played all 16 games there in 2015 before being moved to the right side after the signing of unrestricted free agent Kelechi Osemele.
The Raiders thought enough of Jackson to sign him to a five-year contract extension in 2017 worth up to $55 million (with $16.5 million guaranteed) to keep him off the free agent market.
“Obviously, Gabe’s a great player,” linebacker Tahir Whitehead said. “I didn’t see what happened and didn’t hear about it until after practice. Hopefully he’s OK and we’ll just go from there.”
• Wide receiver J. J. Nelson continued to show breakaway ability in Brown’s absence. He caught a 50yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr during a full team session.
“Every day, if you look at the film, Nelson is making big plays deep and Derek likes him and I think that’s something we’re going to continue to probe,” Carr said.
• Running back Josh Jacobs showed the ability for some inside wiggle on an inside run period. Gruden said the Raiders are impressed, but said it’s likely fans won’t see much of Jacobs in the preseason.
Most starters will likely sit against the Rams Saturday night after getting extensive work Wednesday and Thursday against the Rams.