The Las Vegas Raiders are, indeed, expecting to get the centerpiece of their offense back at full health for the first time since Week 1 Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wednesday, head coach Pete Carroll said star second-season tight end Brock Bowers is practicing at full speed and looks great. He was then a full participant in practice Wednesday. He missed the past three games. Bowers injured his knee late in Week 1, but played the next three weeks with a brace on his knee and he didn’t look to be himself. The knee brace has been removed.
Bowers, who broke several NFL records as a rookie, has 19 catches for 225 yards on the season. Expect Bowers to be a focal point of the Raiders’ offense Sunday with him fully healthy.
Top wide receiver Jakobi Meyers also practiced fully. He missed Week 7 with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Carroll said starting defensive tackle Adam Butler, who was hurt in pre-game warmups in Week 7, will try to practice Friday with an attempt to play Sunday.
Carroll said there is a chance safety/special teamer Lonnie Johnson will be ready to make his debut Sunday. He has been out since early in training camp with a knee.
Carroll said he is unsure when quarterback Aidan O’Connell will be ready to be removed from his 21-day practice window with a return from the injured reserve. O’Connell, who broke his worst in the final preseason game, will throw Wednesday. Carroll was non-committal on whether the Raiders will keep Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett and O’Connell all on the 53-man roster when O’Connell is ready to be active.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported star defensive end Maxx Crosby was not practicing Wednesday. He didn’t play in the second half at Kansas City in Week 7 because of back and knee issues. He didn’t practice during the two bye-week workouts, either. But Carroll has indicated Crosby will be able to play along with Butler.
Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao left the Chiefs’ game with an ankle injury, but he practiced fully Wednesday. So, the Raiders are getting healthy coming out of the bye week.
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