Raiders report: Rookie OL plans on debut; star DE on injury report

At least for the first time in uniform.

“He was on the field a couple of times in the game. You didn’t see him?” coach Antonio Pierce joked on Wednesday of the several times Powers-Johnson stepped on the field cheering on his teammates in Baltimore.

“He was really hyped up and excited. But, he’s getting there. Me and him had a good talk Saturday night, Sunday morning. He understands where I’m coming from. I think he’s in a good place now, physically, mentally, emotionally. We’ll see how this week goes with practice, but if I was a betting man, I hope to see (Powers-Johnson) out there (Sunday).”

While the second-round pick enjoyed rooting on his teammates, he said it’s time to don the uniform and take the field Sunday against the Panthers after missing the first two games.

“It’s just the love for the guys and the team, honestly. I love football, and big moments like that in a huge hostile environment is what makes football so great,” Powers-Johnson said of his role as cheerleader. “But I’m fired up and juiced. It’s going to feel like a dream come true. It’s going to be a privilege to put on the silver and black. I’m just very excited.”

Powers-Johnson missed extended time in camp with a shoulder injury and then some additional time with an undisclosed ailment. He has been listed on the injury report the past two weeks with an illness before being inactive on game days.

Now he’s ready to start proving himself on the field and start answering online critics.

“It’s been really tough physically, but also mentally not being able to be out there and contributing,” he said. “Having outside people calling me a bust already and stuff like that is tough. I try not to listen to that and try to keep my family from listening to it, too. Just been working hard and trying to get out there.”

He’s relying on lessons he picked up playing in the spotlight of one of the top college football programs in America to block out all that noise.

“I learned at Oregon that even when you’re winning, they’ll smile in your face, but they want to take your place and backstab you,” he said. “But those opinions, as great or awful as they sometimes are, won’t affect my play. I’m focused on this building and what’s going on in here.”

Powers-Johnson said he will be ready to take on a full workload if called upon Sunday. The Raiders have had some issues at left guard, and Powers-Johnson’s infusion in the lineup could be a huge boost if he’s ready to step right in and provide stability.

“I absolutely feel like I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’m still continuing to catch up and get in even better shape right now and just chasing every day, but I feel really good. Just taking it step by step and day by day and trying to contribute in any way possible.”

Crosby limited

The Raiders listed defensive end Maxx Crosby as a limited participant on the first injury report of the week Wednesday.

Crosby suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday’s 26-23 road victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He was named AFC defensive player of the week for the fifth time in his career after recording two sacks and four tackles for loss.

The team conducted a walkthrough Wednesday, so the report was just an estimation of what Crosby’s participation would have been had the team gone through a full practice.

Coach Antonio Pierce said earlier in the day he was optimistic about Crosby’s status.

“We’re all battered and bruised,” Pierce said. “That was a physical game, but knowing Maxx — and you saw what he went through last year — I mean, I won’t put nothing past him. We’ll slow it down today and see how the week goes.”

Crosby appeared to injure his ankle on the second-to-last snap of Sunday’s game. He was able to hobble to the line of scrimmage for the final play, but wasn’t moving very well as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s desperation run as time expired fell short.

Linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique/concussion) and cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) were listed as non-participants.

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (knee), defensive end Tyree Wilson (knee), safety Chris Smith (knee), linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (knee) and tackle Kolton Miller (shoulder) were all listed as limited.

Keeping it clean

The Raiders have historically been one of the more penalized teams in the league, but that’s certainly not the case this season.

While their opponents have been called for 18 penalties for 159 yards, the Raiders have only been flagged five times for 30 yards.

It’s been a huge advantage through two weeks.

“I think that’s a credit to our staff, to our players of buying in and just going to our individual periods and taking it in,” Pierce said. “We talked about that with Baltimore. They were a highly penalized team. We didn’t want to be that team. Couldn’t beat ourselves.

“I told them, if we stop the turnovers and the penalties and we get off to a fast start, what does this team really look like? Hopefully we see it this weekend.”

Old friend

Raiders assistant coach Marvin Lewis was the head coach at Cincinnati in 2011 when the Bengals selected quarterback Andy Dalton, who will start for Carolina on Sunday.

Pierce said he will lean on Lewis for some intel on Dalton, but knows he is a different player than when he played for Lewis.

“That was some years ago,” Pierce said. “I think what we can do is really get into the mindset, the psyche of the quarterback. I mean, he’s been away for some time. It’s really a scouting report at this point. We’re still trying to figure out what Carolina is going to do offensively with Andy, which might be different or may not be different than they did with Bryce (Young).”

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.