Both the Oakland Raiders (1-2) and the Seattle Seahawks (2-1) will keep their starters and key players on the sidelines for the majority of the contest on Friday night after the injury bug bit them during the summer.
Oakland will sit JaMarcus Russell and hand over the offense to Andrew Walter. Darren McFadden will likely see very limited action before Louis Rankin takes over and gives coaches one more look at the un drafted free agent before final cuts.
Todd Watkins will have a chance to put an exclamation point to his summer, after being one of the better performer the Raiders have had since the start of camp. He stated earlier this week, “You don’t want to get complacent. I’ve been thinking to myself, ‘It’s not over. I’ve had a good camp, yeah, but it’s not over.’ I need to go out there and practice hard this week to get myself ready for this game mentally and physically. I’m going to be on special teams, most of the offense, so I’ll be out there running a lot.”
Shane Lechler and Nnamdi Asomugha will also be held out of action, and after injuries crippled the Raiders last game, head coach Lane Kiffin made a point this week to make sure they go into the regular season with all their key players ready to go.
“This roster can’t afford any more injuries right now,” said Kiffin. “I just don’t see the value of putting these guys out there and losing one of these guys.”
As for the Seahawks, Matt Hasselbeck (tight back), receivers Bobby Engram (broken shoulder), and Deion Branch (knee surgery), right tackle Sean Locklear (sprained knee) and linebacker Lofa Tatupu (bruised knee), will all sit out on Friday.
GAME INFO
Home Team: Seattle Seahawks (2-1) Home: 1-0 Road: 1-1
Road Team: Oakland Raiders (1-2) Home: 1-1 Road: 0-1
When and Where: Friday, August 29, 2008, 7 p.m. PT | Qwest Field, Seattle, WA
TV & Radio
Greg Papa and Tom Flores will simulcast the game both on the Raiders Radio Network and on the TV broadcast. Raider Legend George Atkinson will serve as analyst and popular radio personality JT the Brick will serve as TV broadcast host. This week’s game will be televised live locally on KTVU Channel 2. There will be an encore showing of the game on Saturday, August 30 at 9 p.m. on KICU Action 36 Cable 6. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 11th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends Atkinson and David Humm along with KGO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information found on the official Raiders web site)
