Incognito has been stabilizing factor for offensive line
ALAMEDA >> It was pretty much a good news day for the Raiders before they boarded buses and left for the airport and a flight to Houston.
Leading rusher Josh Jacobs made his way to the practice field Friday after the media window departed and was limited but expected to play with a sore shoulder. Right tackle Trent Brown was limited with a calf injury but also appears good to go, as does wide receiver Tyrell Williams — out for the last two game with plantar fasciitis. All were listed as questionable
There is nothing questionable about left guard Richie Incognito, although that was the designation many used when the Raiders signed him as an unrestricted free agent after a year out of football and then were forced to wait through a two-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct code.
Incognito is back to his Pro Bowl form and his presence has added a spark to an offensive line that should have all five projected starters in the lineup for the first time Sunday against the Texans at NRG Stadium.
“I’m just falling back into old form,” Incognito said Friday as he packed his equipment bag. “I’m
just putting all the off-thefield B.S. and stuff behind me and going back to being the leader and the player I know I am.”
“Old form” was precisely what many outside the organization were concerned about when when Incognito was signed to a oneyear contract general manager Mike Mayock called a “prove it” deal on May 28.
Incognito opened up to HBO’s Real Sports after coming off his suspension, and his behavioral issues — which he said were made worse by self-medicating — are well documented.
After sitting out an entire season, Incognito at age 36 has exceeded what the Raiders expected. Coach Jon Gruden went so far as to compare Incognito to one of his favorite players.
“When I was here last time we had a left guard named (Steve) Wisniewski, who brought the same demeanor and the same playmaking every day — on and off the field, in practice, in games,” Gruden said. “This guy’s very similar. He’s physical, he’s athletic, he’s a leader. In spite of what anybody says, he’s one hell of a football player and he’s a hell of a guy. He’s given us everything he has.”
As a player, the comparison rings true. Wisniewski was known for mixing it up, blocking to the whistle and sometimes beyond. Off the field, Wisniewski was deeply religious and more of a family man than a wild man.
While Incognito off the field remains a work in progress, his play has added a nasty, detailed presence to an already strong line.
“I’m playing pretty well. I’m in a good groove,” Incognito said. “Playing with some good technique. The guys around me help me play batter, guys like (left tackle) Kolton (Miller) and Rodney Hudson and coach (Tom) Cable’s done a good job coaching us up, putting us in good positions.”
When Incognito out, Jordan Devey stepped in at left guard. Denzelle Good subbed for Gabe Jackson on the right side until Jackson returned from an MCL strain. David Sharpe played well against Green Bay subbing for Brown, who was out with a calf strain.
Finally, in the last week of October, the Raiders have the line they planned on having all along ready to go at the same time.
“I think the best is ahead of us. We’ve been killing it,” Incognito said. “The guys that have been forced to step in have stepped up and played really well, but now we’re back to full strength and hopefully we can start stringing some really good performances together.”
• Jacobs give his shoulder a try against Houston although Gruden made no promises as to how long the Raiders’ leading rusher would play.
“He’s a young player, obviously,” Gruden said. “We’re expecting him to play but we’ll have to see how it goes.”
• It remains to be seen how the receivers will shake out with Williams back in the mix. If the Raiders continue to activate only four, Gruden said it makes it tough to use recently acquired Zay Jones because the fourth receiver needs to know how to play every position.
“In fairness to Zay, it’s hard to learn one position in a week let alone three,” Gruden said.
The Raiders, according to The Athletic, are among the teams interested in dealing for Robby Anderson of the New York Jets. Anderson has 172 catches for 2,546 yards since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He has 17 catches for 266 yards and a touchdown this season.
• Gruden is eager to see the starting debut of Trayvon Mullen, who will take over as a starting corner in place of Gareon Conley, who was traded to Houston.
“Practice is one thing, but the games are another,” Gruden said. “Like I told him, you never forget your debut. My debut didn’t go very well. I remember Derek Thomas silenced my debut pretty good. He’s gong to have to go out there and do his thing and show us all where he is.”