–Expectations that guard Kelechi Osemele might start Sunday took a hit when he missed practice Wednesday (knee). Center Rodney Hudson was limited at practice (ankle) as was left tackle Kolton Miller (knee). Osemele and Hudson are the Raiders’ top players on a line that is struggling with youth and injuries.
Miller, this year’s first-round draft pick, has started on the left side despite knee problems. Rookie third-round pick Brandon Parker became a starter at right tackle when veteran Donald Penn was put on injured reserve (groin). Jon Feliciano has started in place of Osemele, but injured his ribs and was replaced by Justin Murray.
Of course, all this has an impact on quarterback Derek Carr, who was sacked 16 times in 2016 and 20 times in 2017. He has been sacked 17 times already in six games.
–Full accounting. After trading Khalil Mack to Chicago and Amari Cooper to Dallas, the OakVegas Raiders have five first-round draft picks over the next two years. They have three in 2019: their own and those of the Bears and Cowboys; and two in 2020, their own and that of the Bears. At 1-5 and going backwards, the best picks may be their own.
–Reality check. While trading Amari Cooper caused an emotional backlash by fans and players, as a pure personnel move it could be a good one – for the Raiders. Cooper, the No. 4 player taken in the 2015 draft, cost the Cowboys their first-round pick in 2019 and owner Jerry Jones will receive flak for that. Cooper did well in 2015 and 2016, but last year and this year he regressed and was not getting sufficient separation from defenders.
–Safety Mike Mitchell of the visiting Indianapolis Colts entered the league in 2009 as a surprise second-round draft pick out of Ohio University – by the Oakland Raiders. He was hand-picked by owner Al Davis, who envisioned the hard-hitting Mitchell as the second coming of the great Jack Tatum.
Mitchell played for the Raiders only through 2012, then was with Carolina and Pittsburgh before joining Indianapolis two weeks ago. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. In last week’s 37-5 win over Buffalo, Mitchell made seven solo tackles with one interception, one forced fumble and two passes defended.
“To be totally honest, it doesn’t mean much,” Mitchell said of the award. “Obviously I’m grateful because I think it’s something that’s voted on. I need to have a good performance repeatedly. The most important thing to me is we won the football game.”
–Raiders cornerback Rashaan Melvin signed with the Colts as a free agent in 2016. In his two seasons (2016-17), he started 19 games with 94 tackles, 20 passes defensed and three interceptions before signing as an unrestricted free agent with Oakland this past offseason.
–Raiders running backs coach Jemal Singleton served in the same role in Indianapolis from 2016-17.
–Raiders offensive line coach Tom Cable played one season with the Colts in 1987 before beginning his coaching career.
–Raiders director of football research Dave Razzano spent the last six seasons (2012-17) with the Colts as their senior national scout. His father, Tony, was director of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers under head coach Bill Walsh.
