The Las Vegas Raiders have three starting-caliber offensive lineman nursing injuries throughout training camp. Thayer Munford suffered a left-hand injury on July 29. He didn’t miss practice, but since then, he fell out of the starting rotation at right tackle. Munford exited Tuesday’s practice with a right-hand injury and didn’t practice Wednesday.
Kolton Miller underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason and missed offseason workouts, voluntary OTAs, and mandatory minicamp. The Raiders placed Miller on the active/PUP list, and he hasn’t practiced in their first four weeks of training camp. He might return to practice sometime next week.
Their rookie interior offensive lineman also hasn’t practiced.
The Las Vegas Raiders second-round rookie hasn’t practiced
Jackson Powers-Johnson has been nursing a concussion since OTAs, which is a cause for concern. The Raiders placed JPJ on the active/PUP list ahead of training camp, and he missed their first four weeks of practice. Antonio Pierce hoped that JPJ would return to practice next week as well.
The wait is over.
The Las Vegas Raiders activated Jackson Powers-Johnson off the PUP list
According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders activated Powers-Johnson off the PUP list. JPJ returned to practice on Wednesday, which is an encouraging development.
Pierce said #Raiders G Jackson Powers-Johnson has been activated from the PUP list and will practice today. He’s been out since OTAs due to a concussion.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 15, 2024
Will Jackson Powers-Johnson start Week 1?
In the meantime, Cody Whitehair will continue receiving first-team reps at left guard and is the favorite to start Week 1. Antonio Pierce told reporters that they will proceed with caution. They don’t plan on rushing Powers-Johnson to start in their season opener.
“To sit there and say he’ll probably be a starter day one? Eh, probably not,” Pierce said. “But I think it’s always smart with rookies not to rush him. First of all, it’s a learning curve. Then, it’s getting in there and getting back into practice shape and game shape. So, he’s got a way to go, and I think he’s done a good job off to the side on his own. Now he’s back. He’s off PUP, and we’re excited to have him back.”
