Lawson rises to challenge

Against the Chargers on Sunday, cornerback Nevin

Lawson (5foot9, 190 pounds) broke up two passes intended for tight end Hunter Henry (65, 250) in the first quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Lawson was credited with two more breakups on throws for receiver Keenan Allen (62, 211), including one in the back of the end zone.

Asked about those plays Thursday, Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said of the slight, sixthyear cornerback: “Nevin is a pitbull.”

“He’s a competitive guy,” Guenther said. “He’ll cover whoever you ask him to cover. He’s going to cover them, and he’s going to challenge them.”

That can backfire at times: Along with the careerhigh four passes defensed against the Chargers, Lawson was flagged for pass interference and illegal use of the hands, both of which result in automatic first downs.

Lawson’s readiness to take on bigger targets, though, could loom large Sunday in

Denver — the Broncos’ receiving options include Courtland

Sutton, Tim Patrick and tight end Noah Fant, all of whom are listed at 64.

Lawson, who served a fourgame NFL suspension to begin the season for taking a banned substance, has started five of the Raiders’ past six games and played 57 of 61 defensive snaps Sunday. With the Raiders playing Daryl

Worley at multiple positions in the secondary, Lawson and

Trayvon Mullen were the starting outside cornerbacks. Lawson also moved inside to slot corner with Lamarcus

Joyner dealing with a calf injury.

“People might label it as different positions, but it’s football,” Lawson said Friday. “Defensive back is defensive back to me.”

As for guarding larger receivers, Lawson said: “Just believe you’re going to win, that’s all. Don’t matter who it is or what size, this and that. You’ve got to win and believe you’re going to win.”

Injury report: Running back Josh Jacobs (shoulder/illness) and left guard Richie Incognito (ankle) are listed as doubtful for Sunday in Denver. “These are guys that I have so much respect for, I wouldn’t be surprised if they tee it up,” head coach Jon Gruden said, “but we’ll list them as doubtful.”

Jacobs had surgery Wednesday for a skin infection on his leg. However, Gruden said it will be Jacobs’ shoulder injury that dictates his availability against the Broncos.

Mullen, who left Sunday’s game on a stretcher after a hard hit from teammate Cur

tis Riley, was a full participant Friday. He said he experienced “neck pains and just a lot of things that I wasn’t used to having.”

“It was a scare for me as well,” Mullen said. “I kind of started feeling better later in the week . ... I feel like I’m ready to go for the most part. We’ll see how things go.”