ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) Raiders running back Latavius Murray will miss his second consecutive game because of a toe injury, leaving rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard to split the majority of carries against Kansas City on Sunday.
Murray has not practiced since Oakland’s Week 4 win in Baltimore and has declined to discuss his injury with reporters. Murray wore a walking boot for a few days last week but has not been seen in it this week.
The Raiders averaged 148.3 rushing yards through the first three weeks of the season but have not been as effective over the last two games. They had just 62 rushing yards against the Ravens and were held to 89 yards by the San Diego Chargers last week while Murray sat out.
Murray will be a spectator again on Sunday when Oakland tries to maintain its hold on first place in the AFC West.
”We have that next-man-up mentality,” Raiders fullback Jamize Olawale said Friday. ”Murray’s a big part of our offense but the next man has to step up and make plays and continue what they’ve been doing all season.”
Washington, Oakland’s fifth-round draft pick, and Richard had moderate success against the Chargers while combining for 54 yards on 17 carries.
Olawale, whose development over the past two years led to the Raiders’ decision to cut ties with perennial Pro Bowl fullback Marcel Reece two weeks ago, carried just six times but scored Oakland’s only rushing touchdown against San Diego. Olawale also had his team’s longest run of the day – a 17-yarder in the second quarter that helped set up a field goal.
The Raiders figure to lean heavily on all three against the Chiefs. Rains drenched the Bay Area on Friday and are expected back on Sunday with showers predicted to linger the entire afternoon, which could put added emphasis on both teams’ ability to move the ball on the ground.
Oakland coach Jack Del Rio had his team practice in the rain Friday in anticipation of what conditions are likely to be at game time.
”It’s great to get a little exposure in it,” Del Rio said. ”Whether it’s wind or rain, snow, whatever it might be, the conditions, we try to educate ourselves, educate our guys, but sometimes you’re here and somewhere else they’re getting weather and you can’t really prepare in it. So today was great because this is likely to be what it is Sunday, so we got to prepare in it, which was outstanding for us.”
The Raiders will also be without right tackle Menelik Watson for a third straight game because of a calf injury. Rookie Vadal Alexander started the previous two games in place of Watson but has been sidelined this week by an ankle injury and is also out.
Austin Howard, who has been nursing a sore ankle, is expected to start at right tackle against the Chiefs.
Notes: Safety Nate Allen (quad), guard Jon Feliciano (calf), running back Taiwan Jones (knee), tackle Matt McCants (knee), linebacker Malcolm Smith (quad) and tight end Clive Walford (knee) were limited and are questionable.
—-
Online:
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
25% Bonus via Western Union
