Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Gamebreaker
Linebacker Denzel Perryman
The Raiders’ defense needs a spark, and the hard-hitting team captain specializes in bringing a spark. Perryman injured his ankle in the first half of a Week 1 loss to the LA Chargers and hasn’t played since, but he appears on track to return after practicing this week. The Raiders have missed him more than numbers can illustrate. Perryman wears the green dot on his helmet for the defense, meaning he can communicate with coaches pre-snap on the field and relay calls to his teammates. Second-year linebacker Divine Deablo assumed the role with Perryman sidelined, and seemed to fill in well enough, but the veteran Perryman is naturally more vocal and revered. And his greatest strength is tackling in the run game — an area where Deablo and other Raiders fell short last week when the Tennessee Titans scored touchdowns on each of their opening three drives.