Raiders Bubble Watch: RB Mike Goodson could be losing his backup job

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie made most of the tough decisions during the offseason.

By Eric Gilmore

Aug 24, 2012 at 4:04 pm ET • 2 min read

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie made most of the tough decisions during the offseason, long before training camp opened.

In moves to save salary cap room and rid the team of contracts that McKenzie believed were too steep, he released CBs Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson, tight end Kevin Boss and outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

There’s not a ton of veteran depth on the team to begin with, and there has been little movement on the depth chart since the team reported to training camp. In other words, no high-priced veteran has tumbled down the depth chart and landed on the bubble.

Mike Goodson (RB, 4^th year, had three 100-yard rushing games in 2010 for Carolina) -- Goodson’s job is likely secure if he can just hold on to the ball and stay healthy. He fumbled twice Friday night at Arizona and had a reputation for fumbling at Carolina. He also suffered a neck injury during practice earlier in camp, forcing him to miss the preseason opener against Dallas. He was forced out of the Arizona game with a stinger. Coaches want their backup runners to be healthy and sure-handed. Goodson has been neither so far. Even though the Raiders traded for Goodson, sending OT Bruce Campbell to the Panthers , he can’t afford another game like he had against Arizona. He’s running third on the depth chart behind Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones.

Aaron Curry (OLB, 4^th year, drafted 4^th overall in the first round by Seattle in 2009) --Curry was placed on the PUP list when he reported to camp with injuries to both knees. He has undergone stem cell treatments and spent time with a specialist in Los Angeles but hasn’t improved enough to pass his physical and practice. If he doesn’t get better soon, Curry could start the season on PUP -- he would have to miss six games before being eligible to be activated -- or be placed on injured reserve, which would end his season and, possibly, his career. The Raiders acquired Curry from Seattle on Oct. 14 when Hue Jackson was the coach. Now McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen make the calls. While Curry has been out, rookie Miles Burris, a fourth-round pick from San Diego State, has taken all of the first-team snaps. Burris was expected to compete for the starting job even before Curry was injured.

Chimdi Chekwa (CB, 2^nd year, made one start and appeared in four games as a rookie) -- The Raiders spent a fourth-round draft pick on Chekwa last year, but he missed most of the season with injuries and did not have an impressive offseason. Chekwa did intercept a pass against Arizona, but the Raiders could run out of room on the roster for him. CB Pat Lee, a free agent pickup from Green Bay, has had a strong camp. CB Bryan McCann’s ability as a return man could earn him a job because the Raiders’ top return men -- Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore -- are out with injuries. Chekwa’s chances to survive might improve if fellow second-year CB DeMarcus Van Dyke continues to struggle.

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