Raiders Guard Powers-Johnson Misses Practice With Back Injury

Key points

• Jackson Powers-Johnson missed Thursday’s practice with a back injury after participating fully on Wednesday.
• Patrick Johnson missed his second consecutive day of practice due to a stinger sustained in Week 7.
• Brock Bowers, Kwity Paye, and Quay Walker moved from limited to full participation Thursday.
• Klint Kubiak previously suggested rookie Trey Zuhn could start over Caleb Rogers.
• New York Jets rookie David Bailey missed practice for the second day with a groin injury.

Background

Powers-Johnson was previously ruled out for Week 4 with a groin injury, leading to Caleb Rogers taking over as the starting right guard. The Raiders have managed injuries to key players like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty earlier in the season, often using practice participation to gauge availability. Kubiak’s recent comments about potentially using Zuhn indicate a possible shift in the offensive line rotation.

Why it matters

The back injury to Powers-Johnson could impact the Raiders’ offensive line stability, especially if Kubiak decides to insert rookie Trey Zuhn into the starting lineup. The return of Bowers and other players to full practice suggests the team is recovering from earlier setbacks, but the absence of Johnson and Powers-Johnson highlights ongoing depth concerns.

What to watch

The Raiders will likely monitor Powers-Johnson’s recovery over the next few days to determine his status for the upcoming game. Kubiak may finalize the starting lineup, potentially featuring Zuhn if Rogers or Powers-Johnson are unavailable. The team will also assess the progress of Patrick Johnson’s stinger.