Wide receiver Jacoby Ford, running back Taiwan Jones and free safety Michael Huff are practicing today, which makes it two straight days for all three and increases the likelihood of their playing Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
The same can’t be said of running back Darren McFadden, who still isn’t healthy enough to practice and has missed the past 67 days with a midfoot sprain.
Coach Hue Jackson said he isn’t fond of using players in a game if they aren’t able to practice at all the week beforehand. In McFadden’s case, he might need a whole week’s worth of practice just to shake off the rust and get back into game shape.
Therefore, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that McFadden won’t play against the Chargers. It’s about the time when the focus should shift to whether McFadden would be able to play again if the Raiders qualify for the AFC Playoffs.
Even that seems like a long-shot, given the Raiders wouldn’t get a first-round bye and their first-round game would be either Jan. 7 or 8.
Defensive tackle Richard Seymour is back at practice after missing one day because of an illness. Fellow tackle John Henderson (knee) still isn’t healthy enough to practice. Henderson has to be very doubtful for Sunday’s game, at this rate.
Ford, Huff and Jones don’t appear to be experiencing any lingering effects from injuries that sidelined them for multiple games. In Ford’s case, he missed the past six games.
The only question is, will Ford be healthy enough to add kick-return duties to his workload. Jackson said Wednesday that he isn’t sold on that idea just yet.
We’ll check with Ford today to see how he feels about pulling double duty after being sidelined since Nov. 10.
Ford, Jones, Huff ready to roll; McFadden on ice - Inside the Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of Bay Area News Group
