The Raiders caught a break last week in Indianapolis when T.Y. Hilton wasn’t able to play because of a quad injury.
This week it might be the Raiders that are shorthanded at wide receiver. Tyrell Williams, who has caught a touchdown in all four games this year, missed practice again on Friday and looks to be very uncertain for Sunday.
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said on Thursday that Williams is dealing with a “foot issue” but there haven’t been many details offered about the nature of the injury. Generally, though, it isn’t a good sign when a player isn’t able to practice on the Friday before a game.
The Raiders are already shorthanded at wide receiver and after cutting Ryan Grant a week ago, the reliable options are even fewer for Jon Gruden. Hunter Renfrow has 11 receptions this year and after him the Raiders next leading receivers are (or were) Ryan Grant and J.J. Nelson with four receptions each. Grant is obviously gone, but the Raiders traded for a speedster in Trevor Davis two weeks ago and he has been taking the majority of Williams’ reps this week. After Davis, the only other option at wide receiver might be Keelan Doss, the undrafted rookie who shined in preseason.
If Williams isn’t able to play on Sunday, expect Gruden to attack the Bears with a lot of tight ends and power formations. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Bears have a stout run defense and held Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook to 35 yards on 14 carries last week. Remember Cook ran for 110 yards the previous week against the Raiders and averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per carry.
For what it’s worth, Williams will officially be listed as ‘questionable’ going into Sunday.
StaceyDales on Twitter
Per @Raiders HC Jon Gruden WR Tyrell Williams and WR will both be “questionable” for Sunday’s game vs. CHI
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