Raiders Notebook: WR Jacoby Ford appears to have avoided major injury

Although Jacoby Ford avoided major injury, the Oakland Raiders WR could be sidelined for the regular-season opener.

By Eric Gilmore

Aug 19, 2012 at 10:45 pm ET • 4 min read

First the good news on Oakland Raiders WR Jacoby Ford, who suffered a sprained left foot Friday night against Arizona. According to coach Dennis Allen, an MRI revealed no structural damage, and Ford does not have a Lisfranc injury, which is what ended RB Darren McFadden’s season last year.

Now the bad. Ford, who was in a walking boot while he watched practice, could be sidelined when the Raiders open the regular season Sept. 10 against San Diego.

“Potentially, yeah,” Allen said. “You never really know. There wasn’t any structural changes from where his foot was before, and there’s not any swelling, so in that regard that’s a good thing. But it’s just really a matter of pain right now.

“He felt a lot better today. But obviously he couldn’t go out and play today. We’ll have to closely monitor that.”

Last season Ford missed six games when he sprained the same foot.

Jones gets back to work: RB Taiwan Jones practiced for the first time since injuring a hamstring on Aug. 5.

“Looked like he had fresh legs,” Allen said. “He looked good and was explosive, and so it was good to have him back there.”

Jones is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart behind McFadden, and he’s in a battle with Mike Goodson to secure the job as McFadden’s primary backup. He missed the first two exhibition games but expects to make his debut Saturday night against Detroit.

“It’s real important for me,” Jones said of getting into a preseason game. “I haven’t played in a game since last year. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get the feel for it and get my reps with the 1s or 2s or whoever it may be. I’m just excited to be back.”

Jones missed the final six games last season with a hamstring injury. He’s arguably the fastest Raider, but Jones said coaches are trying to teach him how to practice without putting excess stress on his hamstrings.

“They told me I need to learn how to practice, meaning shutting it down when I need to and not trying to outrun everybody,” Jones said. “Today, that’s what I just tried to work on. Not try to get too excited and do too much, just stay within myself.”

Curry update: LB Aaron Curry, who returned to training camp Saturday after receiving treatments from a specialist in Los Angeles for his injured knees, worked out with a trainer for the second straight day. He’s moving better than he was before seeing the specialist, but he’s still not ready to come off the PUP list.

When he was asked if the window was closing for Curry to be ready for the Sept. 10 opener, Allen didn’t hesitate answering.

“Yes,” Allen said. “I don’t know what that date is, but we’re fastly approaching that day where he’s either going to be out there ready to go or he’s not, because it’s not a game where you just show up and play. You got to get some work, you got to get some practice.”

Allen said Curry needs to get to the point where he can “change directions at full speed” before he can practice.

“Because that’s what you do in the National Football League. It’s one thing to run straight ahead full speed,” Allen said. “When he demonstrates that he can bend and change directions full speed, then he’ll be ready to go.”

If Curry goes on the regular-season PUP list, he’d have to sit out six games before the Raiders could activate him. If the Raiders put him on injured reserve, his season would be over.

Lechler passes physical: Pro Bowl P Shane Lechler, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee 10 days before camp opened, passed his physical, was taken off the non-football injury list and practiced.

“It’s good to be back out there,” Lechler. “It’s been a while, but definitely rusty. I’m going to need some reps under my belt quick and get my timing back.”

Allen said he expects Lechler to punt Saturday against Detroit.

Extra points: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey missed practice with what Allen said was a minor shoulder injury. WR Denarius Moore (hamstring) remained out but “felt better,” according to Allen, and is getting “closer” to returning. … Veteran DT Richard Seymour got the day off to let his body recover from Friday night’s game. … TE Brandon Myers (shoulder), who missed the first two games, returned to practice but was limited. … C Stefen Wisniewski (calf) missed practice and was still visibly limping. OL Ed Wang (shoulder), Zach Hurd (head), RB Rashawn Jackson (hip) were also out. … FS Michael Huff, who was excused from Friday night’s game for the impending birth of his first child, was not at practice. Huff tweeted that his baby girl, Madeline Rae Huff, was born Saturday. “Mama and Baby are happy and healthy.”