Speaking this morning at the NFL’s annual meeting, Jack Del Rio confirmed to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez that Menelik Watson and Austin Howard, both of whom are coming off injuries, will compete to start for the Raiders at right tackle.
Del Rio said Watson’s return from an August Achilles injury could be within a month while Howard (knee) isn’t expected to return before the Raiders offseason program begins on April 18.
Watson, 27, has been plagued by injuries in his three years with the Raiders and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Howard, 29, signed a 5-year, $30 million deal with the Raiders in 2014 and is under contract through the 2018 season.