ALAMEDA -- The Raiders got healthy on the bye week and remain that way heading into Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets.
There is an exception to every rule. Rookie linebacker Neiron Ball, who filled an important role as a coverage linebacker on passing downs, suffered a knee strain against San Diego and is out roughly a month.
That leaves a vacancy in the defense. Ray-Ray Armstrong has been first off the bench, though he has struggled covering receivers and tight ends especially. Curtis Lofton also expanded his role to include that duty, but seems to be better in the base defense.
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The Raiders could try Armstrong again as Plan A. At this point, that’s the expectation. He’s fast and athletic, though he can play a bit out of control. The Raiders are likely working on some secondary options as well.
Rookie Ben Heeney could be one. He is a relentless pursuer and a tackler who stood out in the preseason, though the Raiders have limited his defensive snaps despite opportunities to mix him in.
The Raiders also have physical safety Taylor Mays who could play linebacker, or inside the box, in nickel and dime packages if the Raiders want to get creative. In past weeks, Raiders coaches have thought outside the box.
Mays stands 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, and has been good against the run in recent weeks. Mays hasn’t played much safety since being re-signed, in deference to starters Charles Woodson and T.J. Carrie, and reserve Larry Asante.
NFL
Coaches don’t offer info on scheme, especially when it comes to game planning, but practice gives the Raiders ideas.
“We always want to talk about practice being very competitive,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. “The central theme is competition. If players who haven’t been playing want to play, they have to practice really well. They have to show us in practice, in the meeting rooms. They can’t just wait and hope someone gets hurt. You have to really work at it and prove that we can trust you and you can minimize the mistakes while you’re out there. So this is a big practice week for the guys to step up if they want to play.”
The official injury report for both teams comes out on Friday.
Raiders participation report
Did not practice: LB Neiron Ball (knee)
Full practice: S Charles Woodson (shoulder), DT Denico Autry (concussion), DT Justin Ellis (ankle), S TJ Carrie (shoulder), CB Keith McGill (foot)
Jets participation report
Did not practice: C Nick Mangold (neck), WR Chris Owusu (concussion, shoulder), S Clavin Pryor (ankle), WR Devin Smith (ankle)
Limited practice: RB Bilal Powell (ankle), G Willie Colon (knee), WR Eric Decker (knee), CB Buster Skrine (shoulder, hand)
Full practice: S Dion Bailey, T Breno Giacomini (thumb), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), P Ryan Quigley (shin), DE Leonard Williams (knee), CB Marcus Williams (hamstring)