Raiders notes: No Murphy, Boss or Banta-Cain

Sept. 8, 2011GUTIERREZ ARCHIVE
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Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.comALAMEDA -- Tully Banta-Cain visited the Raiders on Thursday but he was not on the field for the team's second consecutive under-the-lights practice.RELATED: Ex-Pats, 49ers LB Banta-Cain visits Raiders
The free-agent linebacker who has spent seven of his nine NFL seasons in New England, including the past two years, would fill a need for depth with the Raiders. But he has played outside linebacker in 3-4 defensive schemes throughout his career; the Raiders employ a 4-3 defense.Should the Raiders sign Banta-Cain, who also spent two seasons with the 49ers, Oakland would have to make a corresponding roster move. But everyone currently on the roster was on the field for practice, except for the same three injured players who missed the previous practice.Of course, Oakland could wait until after the first game to sign a veteran, as the salary would not be guaranteed then.

Same trio sit out -- Receiver Louis Murphy (groinhamstring), safety Mike Mitchell (leg) and tight end Kevin Boss (knee) were all missing from the start of practice.Coach Hue Jackson has said for a while now that Murphy would not play in the season opener Monday night at Denver. And with the likelihood of Boss' availability dwindling by the day, expect Brandon Myers to start at tight end. Getting his work in -- Nick Miller, purportedly a likely roster casualty should the Raiders sign another player, was splitting time with Jacoby Ford returning kickoffs. Miller is already the team's punt returner, but Jackson had yet to commit to him.