ALAMEDA – Right tackle ranked atop the rather short list of position battles heading into Raiders training camp. It pitted Menelik Watson against Austin Howard, an athletic young player against a savvy veteran.
Both players were recovering from injury, with Watson recovering from an Achilles’ tendon tear that cost the 2015 season and Howard working back from offseason knee surgery.
The preseason schedule’s half over now and training camp’s in the rearview, but a starter hasn’t been formally named. Watson’s the frontrunner, taking most snaps with the first unit in practice and games. Howard has mixed in occasionally, including in Monday’s practice at the team’s Alameda complex.