Moss has not practiced since catching three passes for 26 yards in Oakland's
34-25 win over Tennessee. The veteran wideout, who leads the Raiders with 535
receiving yards and three touchdowns, has been nursing groin, rib and pelvis
injuries for the last 19 days.
On Wednesday, Raiders head coach Norv Turner expressed optimism that Moss
would be able to practice Thursday. But after Oakland went through its usual
workout, Moss was again on the absent list.
''He didn't do anything today,'' Turner said. ''I thought he'd be better. Rod
Martin, the trainer, thinks he's getting better. We just want to get him to the
point where he can come out and run and not have a setback.''
While Moss remains questionable to play against the Chiefs, his presence in
the lineup wouldn't be a total surprise nor would it be without precedence. He
did not practice during the week prior to playing Buffalo yet still played,
albeit sparingly, and scored a touchdown.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Raiders' offense hasn't suffered a dropoff with
Moss being so limited.
Quarterback Kerry Collins had his two highest-rated games of the season in
wins over Buffalo and Tennessee, Oakland's first since Moss' injury. Two
different receivers, Doug Gabriel and Jerry Porter, took turns leading the
Raiders in receiving and both went over 100 yards in the process.
Oakland's offense as a whole improved slightly, going from 13th overall to
12th, while the passing game went from fifth to tied with Green Bay for fourth.
''Really, what's helped us in three of the last four games is we've been able
to get some run going, which makes it easier to throw the ball and helps the
quarterback,'' Turner said. ''We want to have balance ... and I think over the
last month we've gotten more balance that way.''
NOTES
* With Charles Woodson sidelined with a broken leg and Derrick Gibson out for
the year, the Raiders will alter their approach to defending Kansas City tight
end Tony Gonzalez. In the past, Woodson and Gibson took turns covering Gonzalez
man-on-man but neither is available, so Oakland will go with a committee
approach.
''It's going to be a variety of things and obviously, we're not going to be
in a situation where we've been in the past where we put one guy on him and say,
'We can hold our own with that matchup,' '' Turner said. ''It's going to take
every one that we've got.''
* Defensive end Derrick Burgess was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month
by the NFL on Thursday. Burgess had two sacks in three consecutive games and has
seven for the season, more than any Raider player has had in the last three
seasons.
''Derrick is a playmaker and he's doing a great job,'' Turner said. ''But
it's all the guys. It all ties together. If they can just zero in on Derrick,
then he's not going to have the success. I think Warren (Sapp) , the way he's
playing, Ed Jasper inside, the scheme, the things we do, I think it all ties
together.''
* Offensive lineman Langston Walker, hospitalized last week after undergoing
emergency surgery for intra-abdominal hemorrhaging, has been released and is
resting at his home. Turner gave no indication when, or if, Walker -- Oakland's
starting left guard the first six games of the season -- would return this
season.
''I think it's too early to even talk about that,'' Turner said. ''It's just
how his recovery comes. It's been what, a week? A little over a week? So it's a
process. It's a big step for him.''
By Michael Wagaman
Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss sat out practice for a second straight day
Thursday, leaving his status for this week's game with Kansas City in doubt.
Moss has not practiced since catching three passes for 26 yards in Oakland's
34-25 win over Tennessee. The veteran wideout, who leads the Raiders with 535
receiving yards and three touchdowns, has been nursing groin, rib and pelvis
injuries for the last 19 days.
On Wednesday, Raiders head coach Norv Turner expressed optimism that Moss
would be able to practice Thursday. But after Oakland went through its usual
workout, Moss was again on the absent list.
''He didn't do anything today,'' Turner said. ''I thought he'd be better. Rod
Martin, the trainer, thinks he's getting better. We just want to get him to the
point where he can come out and run and not have a setback.''
While Moss remains questionable to play against the Chiefs, his presence in
the lineup wouldn't be a total surprise nor would it be without precedence. He
did not practice during the week prior to playing Buffalo yet still played,
albeit sparingly, and scored a touchdown.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Raiders' offense hasn't suffered a dropoff with
Moss being so limited.
Quarterback Kerry Collins had his two highest-rated games of the season in
wins over Buffalo and Tennessee, Oakland's first since Moss' injury. Two
different receivers, Doug Gabriel and Jerry Porter, took turns leading the
Raiders in receiving and both went over 100 yards in the process.
Oakland's offense as a whole improved slightly, going from 13th overall to
12th, while the passing game went from fifth to tied with Green Bay for fourth.
''Really, what's helped us in three of the last four games is we've been able
to get some run going, which makes it easier to throw the ball and helps the
quarterback,'' Turner said. ''We want to have balance ... and I think over the
last month we've gotten more balance that way.''
NOTES
* With Charles Woodson sidelined with a broken leg and Derrick Gibson out for
the year, the Raiders will alter their approach to defending Kansas City tight
end Tony Gonzalez. In the past, Woodson and Gibson took turns covering Gonzalez
man-on-man but neither is available, so Oakland will go with a committee
approach.
''It's going to be a variety of things and obviously, we're not going to be
in a situation where we've been in the past where we put one guy on him and say,
'We can hold our own with that matchup,' '' Turner said. ''It's going to take
every one that we've got.''
* Defensive end Derrick Burgess was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month
by the NFL on Thursday. Burgess had two sacks in three consecutive games and has
seven for the season, more than any Raider player has had in the last three
seasons.
''Derrick is a playmaker and he's doing a great job,'' Turner said. ''But
it's all the guys. It all ties together. If they can just zero in on Derrick,
then he's not going to have the success. I think Warren (Sapp) , the way he's
playing, Ed Jasper inside, the scheme, the things we do, I think it all ties
together.''
* Offensive lineman Langston Walker, hospitalized last week after undergoing
emergency surgery for intra-abdominal hemorrhaging, has been released and is
resting at his home. Turner gave no indication when, or if, Walker -- Oakland's
starting left guard the first six games of the season -- would return this
season.
''I think it's too early to even talk about that,'' Turner said. ''It's just
how his recovery comes. It's been what, a week? A little over a week? So it's a
process. It's a big step for him.''