Injury Report: Peyton Manning Poised For Big Game Versus Raiders Banged-Up Secondary
By Abraham Gutierrez
The final injury reports for Sunday's AFC West clash between the (2-2) Oakland Raiders and the (4-0) Denver Broncos were divulged Friday evening. And while Jack Del Rio and Gary Kubiak tallied 24 players total in their Week 5 slate week's slate, all indications are that only six players will be in street clothes at the O.co Coliseum.
The bad news for Raider Nation is that Oakland will be without the services of four players, compared to only a pair of Broncos that have been ruled out of Sunday's game in the Black Hole. After failing to participate in this week's practices, the following Raiders will be forced to sit out: cornerback T.J. Carrie (chest), running back Taiwan Jones (foot), along with nose tackle Justin Ellis (ankle) and defensive tackle, Denico Autry (concussion).
The fact that the team's top-two leading rushers were slowed by injury this week could force the Raiders offense to become too dependent on the passing game. First-string halfback, Latavius Murray was limited in practice with a bummed shoulder, while Jones will definitely not play in Week 5.
That leaves the hosting Raiders a little thin at the running back position, with the only other halfback available against Denver being Roy Helu. Murray is currently first on the team with 297 yards on 67 carries and touchdowns, followed by Jones' 30 yards on seven carries, and Helu is fourth – behind quarterback Derek Carr – with a disappointing 22 yards (5 carries) in three games played.
On the opposite side of the football, Del Rio will also have to address the lack of healthy bodies on the defensive line, as well as in the secondary. Going up against Broncos signal-caller, Peyton Manning, Ellis and Autry's absence is sure to put pressure on the linebackers and secondary, as there was also a trio of defensive ends slowed by injury this week in practice.
The encouraging part is that the following three players were able to take 100 percent of the snaps in preparation for the Broncos attack (the bad news is that they're all defensive ends): Benson Mayowa (knee), Justin Tuck (knee), and (DE) C.J. Wilson (calf). In the team's depth chart, Mario Jr. Edwards is second behind Tuck, Mayowa is third behind Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith, and Wilson is actually listed as the third-string DT behind Dan Williams and the aforementioned, Autry.
Facing one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, having a healthy secondary will be key to Oakland's hopes of an upset. In that department, the Raiders listed future Hall of Famer, Charles Woodson – as having had full participation in practice because of a lingering shoulder injury suffered in Week 1 – as well as his back up, Taylor Mays (ankle).
Woodson, who will be looking for his first career-pick against Manning, is listed as probable, while Mays is questionable after failing to participate in this week's practices. That leaves the Silver and Black with Larry Asante and Keenan Lambert as the only safeties not penciled in this week's IR.
"We'll probably give Larry [Asante] a little more time back there," Del Rio said this week regarding the safety position. "We're really not about worrying about what we don't have. Whoever's called on to play, we expect them to step in and play well for us and we carry on."
Raiders Full Week 5 Injury Report & Game Statuses
Probable:
(LB) Ben Heeney (hamstring) - Full Participation in Practice
(WR) Michael Crabtree (ankle) - Full Participation in Practice
(RB) Latavius Murray (shoulder) - Limited Participation in Practice
(DE) Benson Mayowa (knee) - Full Participation in Practice
(DE) Justin Tuck (knee) - Full Participation in Practice
(S) Charles Woodson (shoulder) - Full Participation in Practice
(DE) C.J. Wilson (calf) - Full Participation in Practice
(CB) Keith McGill (foot) - Full Participation in Practice
Questionable:
(S) Taylor Mays (ankle) - Did Not Participate In Practice
Out:
(CB) T.J. Carrie (chest) - Did Not Participate In Practice
(RB) Taiwan Jones (foot) - Did Not Participate In Practice
(DT) Justin Ellis (ankle) - Did Not Participate In Practice
(DT) Denico Autry (concussion) - Did Not Participate In Practice
Broncos Full Week 5 Injury Report & Game Statuses
Probable:
(WR) Demaryius Thomas (neck) - Full Participation in Practice
(TE) Owen Daniels (NIR) - Did Not Participate In Practice
(G) Louis Vasquez (knee) - Limited Participation in Practice
(LB) DeMarcus Ware (NIR) - Limited Participation in Practice
(TE) James Casey (knee) - Full Participation in Practice
(T) Ryan Harris (knee) - Limited Participation in Practice
(CB) Omar Bolden (foot) - Limited Participation in Practice
(QB) Peyton Manning (NIR) - Full Participation in Practice
Questionable:
(G) Evan Mathis (hamstring) - Limited Participation in Practice
Out:
(WR) Cody Latimer (groin) - Did Not Participate In Practice
(T) Ty Sambrailo (shoulder) - Did Not Participate In Practice
Abe Gutierrez's (Twitter: @GutierrezAbe) passion led him to ditch law school journey in order to launch his own publishing company. His expertise make him a valued addition to Examiner.com, AXS.com and the CBS-Sports family. Some of his work can be found on CBS-Miami (Dolphins), CBS-LosAngeles (Chargers), CBS-BayArea (Raiders), CBS-NewYork (NY Jets), CBS-TampaBay (Buccaneers), AXS.com, aExaminer.com and other online publications.