Brown expects to be back in lineup to face Vikings
ALAMEDA >> There was more up in the air than the Raiders themselves Friday as they boarded buses headed for the airport and a Week 3 road date against the Minnesota Vikings.
“Obviously, we have enough injuries right now if you look at the list, with a lot of guys being questionable. We don’t really know their status until we get to Minnesota,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said.
The good news is that right tackle Trent Brown was not only on the field for the first time this week, but also a full participant in practice despite a sore right knee. He’s listed as questionable but it appears as though he’ll play.
“He’s still sore,” Gruden said. “He looked good, though. He’s a tough guy. Hopefully he’ll be able to go on Sunday.”
Five other players were listed as questionable: linebacker Vontaze Burfict (shoulder, knee), defensive tackle P.J. Hall (illness), defensive tackle Corey Liuget (knee), right guard Denzelle Good (ankle) and slot corner Lamarcus Joyner (groin).
Good and Joyner were late additions to the list. Good was injured during Thursday’s practice. If he can’t play, the Raiders would likely move Jordan Devey to left guard. Devey started Weeks 1 and 2 at left guard while Richie Incognito was on suspension.
INCOGNITO INTERVIEW ON HBO >> In a revelatory new TV interview, Incognito insists that he’s not a “ticking time bomb.”
“I hope not. I think history will suggest that I am,” Incognito tells reporter Bernie Goldberg during a segment for “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel” that airs on Tuesday (10 p.m., HBO). “But I really am working hard to kind of differentiate from that person and really not make the same mistakes that I have made before to put me in those situations.”
Incognito, who makes his on-field debut with the Raiders this weekend after being suspended for two games, has a well-documented checkered past. He was kicked out of two college programs — Nebraska and Oregon — and his turbulent NFL career is tainted by explosive temper tantrums, wild mood swings and fights with his own teammates.
In 2013, as a member of the Miami Dolphins, he was suspended after being accused of bullying teammate Jonathan Martin.
Reflecting on his fresh start with the Raiders, his fifth team in 10 years, Incognito says, “There’s a lot of crazy stuff in my past. And I wanted to come in here and show the world, ‘Hey, listen, I’m OK.’ “I’m excited about playing for the Oakland Raiders. And I’m ready to learn from where I’ve been and move forward.”
JACOBS FEELING BETTER >> Running back Josh Jacobs, after being limited in practice during the week with a hip injury and indicating on an Instagram post he’d been ill and lost 10 pounds, was a full participant in practice and was not given an injury designation. Jacobs has 184 yards rushing in two games.
Aside from Hall, Keisean Nixon also missed time with an illness this week, although he was feeling good enough in practice to be a full participant and teammates felt good enough about the undrafted rookie to request a pre-flight food run.
“I heard (offensive coordinator) Greg Olson had a whooping cough of some kind so I shut my door,” Gruden said. “We’ve got a lot of germs in this facility. A lot of guys have been under the weather.”
NELSON READY TO ROLL >> Wide receiver J.J. Nelson was injured in the Week 1 win over Denver, missing most of the game, and then was inactive against the Chiefs. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound wide out adds a downfield presence to the Raiders offense.
“He’s a guy that had a great training camp for us,” Gruden said.
Nelson said it was hard to watch from the sidelines last week but also necessary.
“I try not to rush the process,” Nelson said. “It was only the second game. We’ve got a long season ahead. I didn’t want to make it worse than what it was.”
Gruden wasn’t sure if Trevor Davis, acquired from Green Bay this week, would be active. He could be used immediately returning kicks, but it remains to be seen if he can help as a receiver on Sunday.
“You’ve got to do more than just play on special teams,” Gruden said. “That extra receiver has got to be ready to play receiver. There’s a 50-50 chance he’s up.”
Davis said he’s “taken in a good percentage” of the playbook.
“I don’t know 100 percent, of course,” Davis said. “It depends on the play. I’ve seen it happen before when I was with the Packers, guys come in and play the same week they came in. Just studying up and being ready.”
LIUGET TO DEBUT >> The Raiders have taken their time with defensive tackle Corey Liuget, signed as a free agent just before the cutdown to 53. It appears Liuget, along with Incognito, will make his debut against the Vikings.
“I would think this would be his week,” Gruden said. “But I’ll wait until I talk with the coaches and see how he feels.”