It doesn’t look like right tackle Menelik Watson or his backup last week, Matt McCants, will play Sunday in the home opener against Atlanta. Luckily for the Raiders, seventh-year veteran Austin Howard returned to the practice field Wednesday and is ready.
Howard lost a “neck-and-neck” competition, according to the coaches, at training camp to Watson. He missed Sunday’s game in New Orleans because of a sprained ankle. Meanwhile, Watson (groin) and McCants (knee) both were knocked out of that game, weren’t on the field for practice, and aren’t expected back this week, sources said.